Jojo's Loft

I moved. Goodbye.

2010-10-10T10:10:00.004+08:00

I realized I needed to update: starcouture has moved! The new home is at starcouture.tumblr.com!

Do visit! Housewarming gifts not required. :)

Birthday List! ♥

2010-08-17T14:33:00.002+08:00

Birthday List! ♥

~~Okay, I know it's super early but whatever keeps me happy goes. It's completely a wish list though, so while it would be awesome to receive my dear wishes, don't feel compelled.~~

I've made edits to my birthday list again! Now, it may appear frivolous or a completely daydream so go right to the next post if you please.

This is completely a wish list, so while it would be awesome to receive my dear wishes, don't feel compelled. (:

1. A decent leather cover for my iPod Touch - preferably my kind of colours.

2. I still want a Macbook Pro! In black, pretty please. I'm so jealous Yanny's gotten one. I'll give you the iTouch that comes with it. :P

3. Fitted cropped pants. I'm getting tired of jeans, and would have gladly worn my harem pants to work everyday if I wasn't fearful of appearing 'dirty'.

4. A DVD copy of Evita (1996). I'll adore you if I get my hands on this. I keep listening to the soundtracks on youtube, over and over again.

5. An IKEA bedroom set. I want to upgrade to a queen bed, get a triple-door wardrobe, a dressing table and lots of shelves! (Psst, need a man to build it too heh. Will pay for food and drinks!)

6. Running wedges. Something high enough to be good for the office, yet lets me run. Spindly heels are a no-no.

7. A pretty leather bag that fits A4.

8. A dress in cream! Without lace, mesh or frills, thank you.

9. A casual blazer, in cream or grey.

10. A romper.

11. Maxi dress.

12. Anlene chocolate milk - my noisy bones worries me.

13. Someone to teach me how to get Torrent and use it. Easypeasy for the rest of the world right?

*editable at all times, up til 1 September! This is the FINAL version!

Sorry Yanny, I said I will list 13 fashion items but I can't think no more! So here's a good mix.

Anyway, this list is purely for fun, though definitely good to have. Heh. The best part would be to hang out with everyone! So please all plan something fun... I already am looking forward to Chunkfest and picnicking! (I want to fly a kite!)

And Krado promised to get me a Bombay Sapphire. *hearts*

Hello!

2010-08-16T18:00:00.000+08:00

Hello!

I’ve disappeared for a bit I realized. What with Facebook and Twitter and everything in between, I had completely forgotten I have a blog.

(And truth be told, I’m really itching to move to Tumblr. There is just something so appealing about typing phrases in size 40, bold. I reckon that will look funny here on blogger.)

I’ve been quite crazily dull these days, and absolutely mad as a hatter.

Nearly everyday was and will be spent working – at FreshGrads and giving tuition to the poor kids facing exams next week – and being online. I never knew keeping an online presence is so much work! No wonder geeks and gamers are hardly ever seen in public (I jest).

When it comes to non-working hours, my repressed – heh! – self bounces right back and I grow quite strange. I find myself talking animatedly and far too much with people, unconsciously expressing my disgust (really, tights as pants? I don’t want to see you.) as I hurry way too fast out of habit.

Hmm! I usually have more self-control.

In any case, classes are starting for me and I’m excited by it. Strangely – the darn word again! – I’m told, by enough people to have me questioning my own motives.

I'm going to be taking 3 modules, all of which preplanned with bridging class fellas so I'm going to get some fun from friendly faces. Perhaps, just perhaps, I can finish my modules with them and go for the same graduation party at Swissotel. How's that for motivation!

Food for thought. After all, grades are never really measured by duration spent, are they?

~

I'm raving about:

Movie: Evita – I so want to watch this! Anyone who has this, oh please please loan me.
Book: King Lear – at the rate I'm going, I'll need to renew the book 174698 times.
Lastly, my beauty buys! Hah, Aileen is changing me. I bought sunscreen for my face; or is it too late?

Passion Profit Secrets

2010-07-26T14:32:00.006+08:00

Passion Profit Secrets

So we all have something we are passionate about. It could be your love of books and tomes, or the punk rock that no one else seems to understand like you can. Perhaps it’s your absolute dedication to all things in the fashion and beauty world, or your natural flair and zeal for art.

Yet instead of working on these passions, you continue to toil at jobs you do not enjoy as much – to support yourself and your passion.

If you find yourself in that position, why not consider monetizing your passion?

Instead of working at the photocopier and paper shredder all day, and zipping home to play your guitar to an empty room (and face the wrath of your Mom who’s trying to watch the latest Channel 8 drama) – find a way to make your passion your job.

How?

Well, I’m no expert but Thad Bong sure is! And for the benefits of those wanting to quit that photocopying job and working on your passions, he has planned the Passion Profit Secrets 2010 for you.

For this special event, Thad has invited 10 Top Passionpreneur Experts to share their profit strategies with you. The line up includes:

* Paul Evans, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist
* Deb Ingino, 50 Most Influential Women In Business award winner
* Carrie Wilkerson, President of the Association of Work At Home Women
* Snowden Mcfall, past National Women In Business Advocate of the Year
* Bob Burg, International Best Selling Co-Author of The Go-Giver

Passion Profits Secrets 2010 will be held from 2 – 6 August, and will give you an in-depth coverage of all the success practices of this gathering of the Who’s Who of the Passionpreneur scene.

And if you have not figured it out, Passionpreneur is an entrepreneur who have create a business that monetizes his or her passion.

If you want to monetize your passion, this online event is perfect for you. To obtain a free access pass, visit the Official Event Site and register your details.

Related Links: on FreshGrads!, Thad's website

Que sera, sera

2010-07-23T08:52:00.000+08:00

Que sera, sera

When I was just a little girl
I ask my mother, what will I be?
Will I be pretty, will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me.

Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be

Friends are like that

2010-07-21T22:24:00.000+08:00

Friends are like that

I love that even though we haven't talked forever, when we do, it's like we never stopped.

我們都寂寞 (We're all Lonely)

2010-07-20T09:39:00.005+08:00

I was busy embracing my Chinese roots and watching a great 超級偶像 - that's Taiwan Super Idol to you - on MioTV - and trust me, it's really good! It's more professional and has better singers than our local music competitions on telly - when I heard this song: 我們都寂寞.

Just in case you don't speak Mandarin, that's 'We're all lonely'.

And it really speaks to me, because I feel, the truth is that we're all lonely.

The song paints a bleak picture of getting off work in the city, with people and cabs rushing by, your friends too busy and you unloved. You don't want to go home, and end up meeting someone and getting married. It's an emotionless marriage, and you reflect: it's sad to be unloved, yet being in love is not a big deal. You hate yourself, you don't really know what you want... isn't that lonely?

Here's a clip:

The thing about 超級偶像 is that the contestants are really made to practice really hard and do different genres of music, so that they really get better. My only grouse is that most can't sing English right. But there you go, I still prefer them.

Here's my favourite cutie, mock-cute-dancing to Gee:

Yes, he's Korean. Cute eh!

Solar by Ian McEwan

2010-07-17T09:00:00.002+08:00

Solar

British author Ian McEwan is said to favour working with stark opposites – he cast science against art, pits the greedy self-satisfying bums with the heroes of the world and sets technology against nature – and it shows in this latest work.

The highly descriptive story revolves around protagonist Michael Beard, his jaunty yet lamenting thoughts and his unimpressed views of the world.

Beard is a hero in physics, a champion for green energy and he is ready to save the world from self-destruction. His work in his youth simplified Einstein’s revolutionary 1905 paper, won him a Nobel Prize and paved the way for green discoveries and gold-backed research.

Ironically (or not), it is this very brains and the Nobel Prize that led to his continuing self-satisfying and unmotivated lifestyle. Beard rakes through food and women aplenty, living very much for the moment and basking in the past glories of his youth’s research – always sure that the moment will come when he will naturally shed this lifestyle for “innocent Eden”. It’s just around the next corner, he tells himself – even as he ages, grows fatter, carrying “the equivalent of a combat infantryman’s full pack”.

McEwan successfully draws parallels between Beard, and the world and its people. It almost appears as if McEwan is mocking the world – like Beard, we bask in our discovery of coal and oil, unmotivated to move forward; we meet for talks that had no effects, just like Beard did in the Artic summit; and like Beard, the world is getting sicker, fatter and non-committed.

Instead of being insulted though, I tutted at Beard’s lifestyle and found it hard to sympathize with this unlikeable main character (‘protagonist’ seems unfitting). Even so, I lament his misfortune.

The most enjoyable read of the book spanning 9 years of Beard’s life – which makes me wonder why McEwan puts us through it at all – is Part 2, where Beard met his match. A recognized figure in Physics, he dates a common woman working hard on her business; he’s a non-committed mess living in the past, she’s a warm, loving woman hoping for a child. Their fight over her pregnancy flits between her obvious excitement and his despair, as he struggles to get back the familiar warmth of food, sex and sleep before fleeing (once again).

At first glance, Solar may appear dreary from the viewpoint of a self-satisfying fat man. Like in Atonement though, McEwan’s brilliant use of a single incident that will eventually shape Beard’s years is just that – brilliant.

Related Links:on FreshGrads!

Snide Comments, Smirks and Sarcasm

2010-07-12T18:38:00.002+08:00

Snide Comments, Smirks and Sarcasm

There are times when I simply cannot resist making snide remarks to people and while I’m sorry for being mean, I don’t regret it. Not always, or as much as I should anyway.

Perhaps it has got to do with the friends I keep; because when I hang out with them, our conversation is at times completely ruled by snide comments, smirks and sarcasm. It’s either be evil or be bullied.

In any case, sometimes it can get very extreme – and on a day when I’m already annoyed, it becomes irksome.

Case 1:

Old acquaintance whom I haven’t talked to in ages texted me: “Hi! Listen, how do I start a conversation with someone I haven’t talked to in a long while?”

Me: “Uh, you text.”

Case 2:

And then there’s the smart aleck: “sophisticated picture of yours there, you love the art of photography? A girl in a pink dress with her pet cat, seems to be she is veering at the stripe zebras.”

Me: “Huh?”

Smart Aleck: “I mean your display picture.”

Me: (wow, my dp is really small on the screen) “Oh. It’s a doll.”

Smart Aleck: “but that picture of yours is like photography to me, like it tells a story – the dull grey background of the wall speaks a thousand word for the picture. That is what struck me, creates a sombre feeling to the photo”

I could only stare at my screen and completely ignore this old acquaintance. Perhaps this is why we lost contact – we could not converse. On a better day, it would have been funny. On a bad day, I couldn’t waste to rehash to my friends for some good old ‘ohmygod, are you serious’ and eye-rolling.

Not a chronic workaholic

2010-07-09T13:49:00.003+08:00

Not a chronic workaholic

I'm strangely happy at the idea of teaching again. It would be some fun to meet a kid weekly and dish out English help. (They mentioned E Maths and Combined Science - Physics and I completely freaked out!)

I wonder if I'm truly happy, or if I'm happy for the extra income. I know, it's not the best thing to admit but... I'm not above that, not just yet.

Hui Jing will probably call me a workaholic again.

Dull Days and Chirpy Change

2010-07-07T11:13:00.004+08:00

Dull Days and Chirpy Change
(bad title? heh)

I'm beginning to find my days quite dull. The same old, same old, and more of the same old thing... and I wonder why is it.

And then I realize: perhaps it's a result of high expectations, because seriously, how many graduates land a SGD 10,000 per month job, live a lavish lifestyle of long spa sessions and shopping trips?

I digress.

But my theory stands: it is, in all probability, my high expectations that made me resent my lack of long spa sessions and expensive shopping trips.

In fact, I find myself scrimping more than I ever did in my entire schooling career. All in an effort to be right and responsible and all the other hateful R words.

The uncanny similarity cast me as quite the unlikely (and unsuccessful) heroine of a badly written chic lit book. You know the type, big dreams, small reality, tries to be nice, sadly unaccomplished, rather animated (talks to self)...and saved by a really cute and surprisingly rich successful career man.

But note I say unsuccessful heroine, because I'm never going to meet a kind Luke Brandon (top 5 richest man in Britain!) or Jane Austen's manly Mr. Darcy to put me in said long spa sessions and expensive shopping trips lifestyle, or whatever is Mr. Darcy's equivalent.

And no, I don't mean to accuse Sophie Kinsella's and Jane Austen's work as 'badly written chic lit books'. I just simply cannot remember the titles, authors and forgettable characters of said books.

I know I digress an awful lot, so if you forgot what I'm explaining and what I'm going on about...well, god help you, and me.

In any case, as I was saying: my theory is that I got to lower my expectations. There is no point wishing for Luke Brandon and Mr. Darcy (aha!) to materialize and come save this flailing heroine; instead I should simply be less expectant and more chirpy.

After all, how did the heroine survive pre-Luke Brandon/Mr. Darcy? Why, to be chirpy, weepy, brave and strong!

Maxi Dresses are huge, huge and huge.

2010-07-06T15:41:00.004+08:00

Maxi Dresses are huge, huge and huge.

And not just in the amount of cloth worn or the skin it covers. Trendsetters like Nicole Richie, Eva Longoria and Paris Hilton have all been seen to be rocking this long summer favourite.

So what a blessing it is that it’s summer all day long in balmy (yes, I imagined rather wistfully) Singapore – save for that Wednesday’s flood.

I had thought that maxi dresses were going to be a passing trend, especially with the amount of skin teenage girls like baring these days. Just trawl through the blogshops in Singapore and or go through the malls to see stores selling sheer tops, very short dresses and sky-high heels like hotcakes.

So imagine my surprise when I see maxi dresses on the racks! My surprise was rather short-lived when I realized exactly how maxi these dresses were. My mom asked, “How are you going to wear these?”

I pointed at the mermaid hem of a particular piece and told her that’s the point where I’m supposed to snip off.

But in all seriousness, I think we need some education on getting the right maxi dresses – since we’re being handed maxi dresses made for giants.

1. Length

Yes, despite my grouse on the terrifying length of maxi dresses, this is my point number one. Maxi dresses are only maxi dresses if they are long. Point in question, how long?

Well, I say that maxi dresses should fall below your ankles and your shoes should peep out with every step. Avoid dresses that show your ankles, or dresses that look like you’re being a walking broom.

Another good length is mid-calf, if you really prefer to show off your gams.

2. Shape, or Drape

This is very important if you have no desire to look like you’re wearing a curtain – especially true for some prints. It’s really heartbreaking to be told that you’re wearing a household item print; I nearly hated a friend who told me my new purchase looked like a tablecloth. (and no, it wasn’t red and it wasn’t checkered).

An ideal maxi dress should cling to your body in a nice way while being comfortable. We’re not looking at slinky pieces or potato sacks, but pretty summer pieces. So you have to try, try and try!

Piece of advice: I really was kidding when I said balmy Singapore, I meant sweltering Singapore. As such, try to shop for lighter materials that are more comfy in this humidity.

3. It’s all about the details

Maxi dresses are usually one single block colour, tie-dyed or a print. This can be monotonous, so dress up your dress with details. It could be a belt, a boho hair tie, chunky bracelets. Plaits will look very good, while a safer messy chignon and shades would look like you just threw the look together.

Keep your make up simple, grab a denim cropped jacket for the air conditioned places and always wear open toed shoes.

Finally, a casual bag and you’re really to go!

I know, pictures would be so much better. Unfortunately, I rather not steal pictures off the web which you can easily google for; and I haven't any of my own because I'm still looking for my elusive maxi dress. Go figure.

I found my... Soul Mate.

2010-07-01T17:12:00.003+08:00

I found my... Soul Mate.

Would it be very drama if I tell you, on 1 July 2010, I have found my soul mate?
Because I have! And we are really really happy, in a bittersweet kind of way.

Yanny: feels like i missing out so much, man, i've always wanted to like i dunno, really study, art-art.

Jojo: i totally get you

Yanny: yeah :( sucks huh, jojo.

Jojo: i want to live the rugged student life like, small dingy apartment up a rickety stairs, dangerous student-populated town, going to school

Yanny: like going OUT there and really experiencing what life is

Jojo: have parties, make friends! you do art, i do uh small businesses, then come back to living in a civilized place when i'm like 25. that would be awesome!

Yanny: yeah totally lor. sigh. instead of being stuck in this stupid little island with only people, people, and more people! i'd rather be somewhere in NYC, and being paid for to install artwork in an old house...

Jojo: but among people you have me, krado, xinyi, piaoxue, nicole and many more awesome (:

Yanny: yeah one thing i can never quite leave are my friends here

Jojo: hahah OHOHOHOH! i've always wanted to be able to do this: abandon everything, buy old houses, fix them up with friends…

Yanny: revamp the insides right?

Jojo: and sell them!

Yanny: YEAH JOJO

Jojo: then buy new ones!

Yanny: exactly!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD. T---T

Jojo: you're my soulmate! too bad we're both girls

Yanny: *hugs* LOL *drama moment*

Jojo: hahhhahhaha *wiggles eyebrows*

Yanny: yah lor why cant u be a mannn LOL : ( be a man, jojo! WAHAHA

Jojo: *ignores* I want to tear stuff down and paint new drama walls

Yanny: HAHAHAHAA yeahhh!

Jojo: buy stuff and like plant gardens… ahhhh! me hearts you

Yanny: gardens!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhh : (((((

Jojo: you can experiment with your moss stuff, i can experiment with fabrics for sofas and curtains

Yanny: YAH LOR aint THAT AWESOME?!!?!

Jojo: ah bugger, why are we two in sg again?

Yanny: yeah lor we shld be overseas doing old house revamping + interior design

We only need a sponsor.

Warning Signs

2010-06-29T12:14:00.004+08:00

Warning Signs

Oh dearie me no.

What if I tell you I really don't feel like Marketing? I'm so confused, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Is it a good thing that I'm putting thoughts into my future career path and considering it fully, or is it bad that I'm suddenly thrown into rethinking it after I signed up for my degree majors?

I can't say.

But I do know that Marketing's giving me cold feet right now. And Advertising & Public Relations and Editorial & Writing is looking so appealing.

I know - I'm so messed up.

I always thought it was a straight clear light path for me. I grew up knowing what I wanted, and I've nearly always reached it, and have barely ever regretted. I wanted to be an English teacher as a kid and read voraciously, was strongly for attending a mixed secondary school, wanted badly to make it to a Mass Communications diploma program... and now, in the last few laps of my schooling life, after making the decision to specialize in Marketing, after marking it as my degree major, I started getting cold feet.

If I wasn't so freaked out about getting cold feet now of all times, I might have found it amusing.

I don't know. What do you think? Would you find me good at Marketing? Or would I be better at Public Relations, Advertising, or Journalism?

From HuiJing ♥

2010-06-28T14:04:00.005+08:00

From HuiJing ♥

I'm not on Tumblr so I cannot simply repost, but this is so completely sweet that I cannot resist.

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you’re just as pretty without makeup on.

One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you.

The one who turns to his friends and says, ‘That’s her'.

P.S. HuiJing's blog is full of romantic sweet nothings - a perfect read for AWWW moments. I always go read when I need to know nice things still exist. Hee (:

Oh dearie me, I'm having a new affair!

2010-06-28T13:31:00.006+08:00

Oh dearie me, I'm having a new affair!

Okay, pardon me. It's just a fantastic way to get your attention and tell you how nice the new coffeeshop boy is treating me.

Oh yes, the NEW coffeeshop boy. Boy #1 has packed up shop (figuratively speaking) and left, and so boy #2 (who has been here all along) has started serving me.

And boy, serve me he does! When I buy takeaways on busy (or warmer) days to eat up at my desk, I get so much food I wonder I should began to have it for lunch AND dinner.

No, of course I'm not on a mission to lose weight or to desperately trying to save money; it's just that there's so much food.

Call me an aunty, or a scrimp (though I generally prefer takeaway queen), but a regular takeaway rice pack has a third rice, some vegetables, countable-on-one-hand pieces of meat(s) and lots of warm air. Generally.

My wonderful packet has also a third rice, but half a packet of whatever meat/veggies/tofu I ordered, leaving my food to be rather cramped for space. Whenever I open it up, the food almost always nearly spill out.

Before I'm done with one dish, I'm quite done in. But to prevent wastage, I nearly always finish it - hence my current weight gain.

Am I obsessing? Perhaps. But it seems like losing weight or saving money is so within reach - just stop when full and continue for dinner.

I might actually save up for University faster.

Dread knows no boundaries.

2010-06-25T10:21:00.005+08:00

Dread knows no boundaries.

This has so far been an absolutely dreadful day.

I woke up today at 7.45am; so tired that I'm absolutely glad that I get to sleep in late tomorrow - I shall be waking up at 9.15am, a generous one half hours more.

Today's my 15th straight day of waking up at 7.45am - for school and or work. It's not pleasing for sure.

I desperately need a fun holiday that doesn't involve work or studying but there is no time, and I'm too poor anyway.

Yesterday, when my meeting with the NTU students ended early and I had 2 leisure hours (albeit being stuck in Bugis), I almost felt uncomfortable. It's like, woah, so much free time! I was almost aching to do something - grab an Accounting text, draft a story, something.

And about being poor - having such a cramped timetable makes me feel that I should be compensated, financially. If I'm given such tightly scheduled days, surely someone, somewhere can ensure I have cash? That way, I can buy all the de-stressing Ben and Jerry's I need, take all the cabs I want to and buy all the eyebags-fighting products I require.

But you know, this is reality.

So on the bus I go today (as with all other days of my life), without Ben and Jerry's and with eyebags.

It's a really cold and rainy day today here in our usually sweltering country.

I was engrossed in Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief on the bus (yes, I'm that outdated. And yes again, bus rides are now my entertainment time), trying to ignore the cold and the uncomfortable squeeze (Uncle on my right with his legs wide open, and Art Lady on my left with her art tube poking my arm - real comfortable).

Just as I thankfully got down from the bus outside my workplace and was about to cross the drowned road, a bloody orange hatchback SPED past and SLOSHED half the road's wet on my dress.

My dress!

My black, back-crotchet dress.

My black, back-crotchet dress that I wore today for a meeting in Orchard.

It was almost in slow-motion (I know they all said that, but seriously. I saw the droplets fly and I just STOOD still. Beats me why too.), and then before I could react, the road wasn't drowned anymore - all the water's on me.

So I'm tired, sleep-deprived, cold and VERY WET. And so very super angry, that I was relieved that the lift up to Level 4 at work was empty so I can scream.

See why I never liked orange? To think I've been trying to like it (it can look so pretty on leather bags).

And yeah, I've been doing a lot of inner loud, muted, agonizing screams. In the lift today, on buses several times and many many countless times at home.

Okay, maybe not agonizing, but you get the idea.

I need a holiday.

Rambles

2010-06-22T08:59:00.000+08:00

Rambles

It is so tiring to go up against a wall.

It simply stays put, quiet and so silent... that I cannot help but wonder if it heard me at all. It only stands there.

And this completely irks me, because it does not reply and it does not help. In fact, it only builds up and go higher - making it harder to scale and complete.

The list of things I need to do it long, and I cannot do it without help because I am not allowed to.

The silence is making me go quite mad, and especially with the whole lessons and study during my leisure time - I feel like I'm being stretched at times, and I have no one understanding to grouse to.

I do try to get it out, but it seems they are just passed over and no one hears it. So in it goes, bottled up. I resent, but I guess I understand: I feel like my grouses and me are too old for me.

Okay, I know I have been told that I should stop thinking that. But I cannot help it when I am again reminded and reminded that I am not young. And if I am not young, then I must be old. That only make sense right?

So continues the old feeling.

Now I feel happiest on weekends when I get to live like a student - going for class from 9am to 5pm. Sometimes, I actually forget it's the weekend! To be able to stressed out for not understand how to calculate Variance, and to think hard about what to have for lunch - that's easypeasy and fun.

And the best person to listen to me now is my Momma. I know, I sound like a mumsy girl but really, it's just easier to air my grouses to her.

I should really learn to be happier for small things now. Perhaps all my wild dreams finally caught up and made me expect too much. So perhaps dash that mansion, and the fleet of sports cars, and go dreaming for a decent apartment in a decent town.

I wonder if that's too much to ask from myself.

I ♥ Owls

2010-06-21T18:15:00.001+08:00

I ♥ Owls
Like, look at these perfect owl motifs! Heehee
They are so adorable, and a much prettier choice than the insects motifs that was the rage a few months back.

You didn't notice it? Good, because that trend is going away and (hopefully) never coming back.

Meanwhile, we shall continue rocking our owls and butterflies.

Look at Owls in Fashion:
Lovely rings from I-don't-know-where.

Me ♥ these earrings!

Earrings photos from 1981.

And I have these heavier ones in another colour. The stones must weigh a ton; these studs keeps dropping off. Bah.

Will show y'all my lovely owl assets! My necklace! Upload photo later.

When the Internet connection is scary...

2010-06-18T13:29:00.003+08:00

When the Internet connection is scary...

Everytime I get a break, or sit in front of the laptop (and telly) at home, I visit Facebook first and then (almost always) tons of glorious shopping havens.

Facebook, well, it has become a habit. Good or bad, I cannot decide. But I'm glad I haven't stooped to making it my homepage yet.

My second destination are shopping havens, and they are *swoons* to die for. In fact, all my bookmarks on my browser are shops after shops after online shops.

I know Aileen and a ton of people don't agree, but online shopping is WONDERFUL.

I can sit comfortably at home, in PJs if I like, with a pint of Ben and Jerry's in my left hand and a fast finger hovering over the mouse. Browsing through any shop I like to find a pretty dress, a slouchy tee, the perfect pair of shorts and it's addictive.

Not that I've always wiped out my savings shopping though, I do exercise barely-controlled self-restraint. So far, my spoils are limited - 3 dresses, 3 earrings and a hair accessory.

My 'restraints' - countless dresses and blouses, a couple pair of shorts and some shoes. So you see, my figures are pretty decent.

And when I feel mighty poor, I visit lookbook and fashionising to check out the latest in trends and the best looks to go. Vain, bimbotic habits maybe, but one I cannot resist.

I suspect though, that my wardrobe will soon sport many online-store bought items, and my birthday list this year will be suspiciously uh clickable. All the better for those wanting to buy me gifts (hee)!

Of course, I'm not a total airhead and a cheapskate.

I'm shopping at Reebonz too - love the Prada deerskin in cream, and that fun Burbery tote!

Signing off,
AirHead

5 reasons why I think I'm old

2010-06-17T14:21:00.009+08:00

5 reasons why I think I'm old

Remember I said I'm compiling reasons why I think I'm old? I announced it to very unpleasing agreements on Facebook a while back.

Here's 5 reasons why Jojo's old. D:

#1 Coffee, my water

I drink way too much coffee for my own good. A cuppa steaming hot [I don't know what's with me and the words hot and steamy] coffee during breakfast, after lunch, after a good dinner, just for the heck of it and when I'm very cold. If I don't feel guilty, I'd love have it after breakfast as well!

Coffee is just so yummy, and it gives me a happy feeling.

And no, I don't mean the ice blendeds they sell at Starbucks or Coffee Bean. That's really just milk coffee with chocolate powder, too much chocolate sauce and lots of ice. I should know. No, my favourite's a warm skinny flat NSA Mocha Latte from Coffee Bean.

So you see, I am really old inside. Most youngsters (oh dearie me) go for sugar-doused ice blendeds, or only drink coffee on occasions right? Hell, some wake up to a cuppa Milo in the mornings. I never had that.

#2 'Adult Hours'

I keep 'adult' hours. I get sleepy at 9pm (something 8-ish!) and wake up early for work / school - such that my internal clock kind of got used to it, and promptly rouse me every early morning. Yes, even weekends, even on sleepy days, even on comfortable rainy days.

I'm really envious of those who can wake up in the afternoons. But then again, the younger sleep better right?

#3 Old Breakfast Choices

Did I say? I grab coffee first thing in the morning, and my first breakfast cereal was muesli. That should already render me super old. Sin 2: I don't like breakfast cereals like Koko Krunch and Fruit Loops. And I really love muesli, with yogurt.

That's it, I'm in the 40s category already. Muesli is too healthy for younglings.

#4 Looking 25

This, I'm innocent. I did nothing to warrant this: being told by enough people that I look much older than I look. My great pal Aileen (25), my facialist (25), Eehong (22)... Even HuiJing said 22 too right?

At 15;
bank sales representative: "Hi, would you like to get a credit card?"
me: "I'd love to, but I'm 15"
bank dude: *horror* "Aiyo, it's so late! (10pm at Orchard) Go home, now!"

Which leads to...

#5 Dress Sense

I'm sorry (not really) that I don't like graphic designs much. Nor cartoon characters as a kid. Nor street shoes and sporty shoes. Nor coloured hair. Nor backpacks. Nor skulls, action heros shirts, coloured jeans.

They simply look funny on me. On the rare chance that I like something trendy, trend(ier) teenages have moved on to the next craze.

In fact, I remember when I visited the zoo as a child, I wore a somber deep red dress with peter pan collars, black velvet panels and matching black maryjanes. All I need then was just longer legs, black sheer stockings and black eyeliner.

It's just unfortunate that I prefer other stuff - which my mom kindly calls 'classic'-er.

But I'm trying now! I'm wearing yellow nails, hot pinks and uh tees? I cannot drop my love for gold tones though.

Perhaps I should just embrace my age (and coming birthday!). Coffee and gold doesn't hurt does it?

The 2010 Birthday List

2010-06-15T17:59:00.005+08:00

The 2010 Birthday List

On Yanny's advice, I'm going to come up with a comprehensive birthday list of 13 items from shopruche, tracyeinny, hervelvetvase and many other sites that I recently declared "I-hearts".

I'll add 7 items that are not clothes related. (:

So I'll have a grand total of 20 items on my birthday list for my growing age. I suspect my birthday list will be a minor - and only! - reason to enjoy the growing number; I really wish to remind 17 and young and stress-free.

Guys, beware: it may get guniang.

Will put it up soon!

Dirty Gold

2010-06-14T17:18:00.004+08:00

Dirty Gold

I have an inexplicable urge to own masses of dirty golden hair and fair skin (as always). They seem to be perfect for matching anything, from elegant blacks and whites to the wild prints, from glamourous chic right down to sweet country girl looks.

Yes, I am very envious.

For some reason, they just look better. Even if they wear creams and nudes that are close to their natural colour.

Instead I have hair that cannot decide to be black or brown, and skin that are waging a war fighting for a common palette.

I got into this unjust mood from looking at Frida's lookbook pictures. Click here to view! She's got pretty good style.

I’m Having An Affair

2010-06-10T13:13:00.002+08:00

I’m Having An Affair

I’m having a hot steamy affair with the coffeeshop boy at work.

Sounds exciting? I think so too.

He makes my workday more interesting, and I definitely look forward to lunch more – hot steamy lunch with extra heaps of those yummy chicken and veggies served with a cheery hello! What’s not to like?

Never mind that he appears overenthusiastic and mildly freaked me out with a unwell-aimed “Xiao Ke Ai”. I nearly froze on the spot.

Prior to our affair, I had to face a very fierce mean serving lady who stares very hard when I take disposable cutlery for my takeaways (as if I will take extra to hoard), who is very curt with me and who counts the pieces of chicken she serves like they’re gold.

So am I glad for this affair? Hell yes.

Aileen was super shocked. “Ohmygod, you’re going out with the kopitiam boy!” Well, if going out means buying food from him everyday, then yes.

Then her rich, faithful, caring boyfriend (our little secret!) Thad accused me and primly reminded me to “stop hitting on the coffeeshop boy can!”

How Singaporean, the pair of them (teehee). So come back here! And buy food with me. You’ll see that he’s the one who asked me where I work, when I get off work and is the nice server who’s willing to give me extra heapings.

Oh yes, I like this affair.

Until the next, uh, conquer! Now, it's lunch time.

How Utterly Unfair, don't you think?

2010-06-10T10:07:00.007+08:00

How Utterly Unfair, don't you think?

I quote Mr Thomas L Friendman, who wrote this in a commentary for TODAY:

" When meeting this year's grads it's best not to ask: "Hey, what are you doing next year?" Too many recent grads don't have an answer. They can't find jobs even remotely related to their fields. This year's graduation theme is: "Don't ask. Can't say." "

Reading this makes me remember how many of my graduating peers cannot do what we want - the universities that we truly most want to enter, the courses that we most want to take up, the jobs that we most want to work in and perhaps the business ideas that we most want to work on.

And most of the time, it is not really our results that left us hanging and stopped us from what we do. It's simply a lack of space in universities, a lack of confidence and or reputation in the private education sector (from almost everyone!) and perhaps a lack of boldness or passion is setting up our own businesses.

While the entrepreneur bit is only our own to blame, we cannot be made to suffer the lack of space / credentials in the education system.

Local universities have very limited spots for students. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe they currently house less than half the student population in Singapore. Or lesser. (I read somewhere which actually cited 30%. Will find exact figures.)

This statistics is really odd, seeing that a Bachelor Degree is seen as the minimum in today's working world - that is, if you want to go somewhere in your industry reasonably fast.

So, if you need a degree but the local universities are filled up, you can only go overseas if you're financially able or do a private degree.

I honestly think a private degree is not different from local universities or the same foreign universities. There are institutes and partner universities who do work properly together to give private students the same education they would have received had they attended school in the main campuses.

But there is still the problem of credibility and reputation from potential employers and the public. Many still believe that the private education sector are dodgy places following the brouhaha over certain untrustworthy institutes. I have heard horror stories about how degrees - earned similarly from years of hard work and studying - are not recognized by employers and considered lesser than other degrees.

And I loathe the unfairness.

How is a degree gained from a credible institute working with a reputable foreign university neither credible nor reputable?

If so, perhaps we should return to the root problem and make space for all students to gain a fair chance to enter local universities - so that if they do not make the cut to their preferred school or program, it is only because of their bad grades and not a lack of space.

To be frank, I do not really condemn the fact that Junior College students get priority (after all, an A Level student is not equipped with any tertiary education). I get that they need the education.

But from the perspective of a student wanting to be well employed and well reimbursed in a working world when a local degree means the world - then yes, it is truly unfair.

Perhaps someone should have waved a red flag in our faces when we choose to do a tertiary education in polytechnics, saying "Go to JCs, then go to local universities! The world is a cut-throat place, leave the suckers behind or you'll be left behind in the future.

Not very nice perhaps, but that what it feels like.

Well, almost. I, for one, thankfully believe that private education won't destroy my future.

Read Mr. Thomas L Friendman's full commentary. He's a Pulitzer winner, and though the article's more for US than Singapore... it quite makes sense. Click here!

The Man behind Beeconomic

2010-06-09T14:34:00.006+08:00

The Man behind Beeconomic
Karl Chong is a great success story in the corporate world – a legally-trained Asset Manager who was born in Singapore, bred in Australia and gainfully employed in the United States. To make the story sweeter, Karl was working at international names like Proctor & Gamble and Macquarie Bank.

However, his affinity for entrepreneurship came knocking when he stumbled upon a website selling vouchers for a month of indoor climbing during the recession years. Though one of the few lucky survivors during the retrenchment, Karl was soon overworked and tired of the 9-to-5.

The month of indoor climbing gave him the opportunity to get out and make lasting friendships, and revived him of his exhaustion. So he thought, “this is exactly what busy executives need: a service which sources out what the city has to offer for them.”

Still, Karl bided his time, did his research and in January this year, he and his brother Christopher decided to drop their careers in US and Australia respectively –settling midway in Singapore to set up Beeconomic.

There is good reason for the brothers’ return here. Beeconomic’s concept of buying power in numbers is relatively unknown in Singapore, which gives them a first mover advantage. In comparison, the concept has already taken off in US and Australia.

And if you were wondering – yes, Beeconomic does mean “be economic”, which Karl says represent their keenness in helping consumers indulge without breaking the bank. Also, the ‘bee’ in the name represents their adage: buying power in numbers. Karl shares, “Bees are powerless alone, but when they work together in a hive, there’s power.”

With a great concept, quirky representations in their name and a first mover advantage, Beeconomic seem ready to take on the world, Singapore first. So the rest, as they say, is history – or is it?

“First, we need to educate the market about our concept, both the merchants and the customers. Also, it is important for us to maintain a standard of quality. We had to say no to a lot of people (because of it),” said Karl.

One good case in point: the Beeconomic team is very thorough when sussing out a dining place to feature. They screen through everything they deem important, from the yummy factor of the food and the décor, right down to bathroom hygiene.

And it seems that this standard of quality is what made Beeconomic the Number One choice, with 100% of their featured merchants wanting to come onboard again.

However, Karl attributed their success also to the team’s personality. “We don’t sound like we’re pitching to 100 merchants and they’re our 99th choice. I think that was what convinced the merchants to work with us.”

But with competitors very hot on their heels – springing up only a week or two after their launch – does Beeconomic worry about losing their lead?

“The competition is a challenge, but one that I am happy to take,” Karl shares. “It keeps me on my feet.”

This frank answer comes with no surprises. After all, Karl actually dropped his Masters program at INSEAD for Beeconomic despite being just a few modules away from graduation.

The reason was, he wanted to be quick in introducing the buying in power concept. Such passion and faith in his business is very impressive.

“It is important to be passionate about the products and services you’re selling. Be innovative – sure, you can copy but try to be different.” Karl stresses, when asked to give advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

With a laugh, he piques “Have a lot of energy, because you are not going to have much of a social life!”

But the greatest advice, the best piece that I thought was lacking perhaps in other budding entrepreneurs or other businesses was “being kind”.

Karl explains this all-important kindness, “Replying immediately to consumers, rewarding your employees and fostering your relationship with your merchants.”

Perhaps with a little kindness, a lot of passion and a great business idea, we can all be successful entrepreneurs, just like Karl.

Related Links: Beeconomic, on FreshGrads!, Shop Review: Beeconomic

Wages for Beauty - is that fair?

2010-06-07T11:25:00.003+08:00

Wages for Beauty - is that fair?

I’m not sure if you have read about the brouhaha over at Citigroup in New York City, but if you haven’t, here’s a good summary - click here!

A quick apt gist: A curvy lady was fired after she didn’t adhere to bosses’ request to stop dressing to distract her male colleagues. Her office attire? Pencil skirts, turtlenecks, jackets and regular heels – in the same style as her colleagues.

The commentary goes on to unearth shocking revelations, which on hindsight is probably present all the while, taller guys and thinner girls get paid more.

Revelation #1: In 2005, a study showed that good-looking people and taller people gets a “beauty premium” of an extra 5% per hour, while plain people suffer a loss of 9% in wages.

Another study shows that for every inch of height a guy has, he earns an additional $1,115 per year. And obese women have a tendency to earn lesser than women of average height.
Is that fair?

If I’m as capable, equally qualified as the next graduate but have somehow failed to find the secret of keeping my weight at 44kg when hovering at 1.61cm, I get regular or up to 9% less in wages.

(I hope the 9% is the difference between the beauty premium and the plain penalty; instead of it referring to 9% below average! That would cap the difference at a much higher 14%.)

And let me remind you that that’s an unhealthy BMI of 16.9, and MOH dictates that healthy BMI stay in the 18 – 25 range. Yes, I’m a tad BMI-obsessive.

But in the name of higher pay and more money, I will be sure to stay a strict exercise regime, and to look for a tall boyfriend and to get my future kids to work hard at skipping rope.

But here comes Revelation #2: unattractive people are more employable.

And no, this isn’t directly implied by the Citigroup brouhaha (now a lawsuit), nor an indication that companies want to save on the 9% / 14% difference. It’s because the men in the company do not want to be tempted by beautiful forbidden fruit, and the women do not want to be depressed and distracted by prettier women.

And vice versa. Though I'm betting women do not mind being tempted by 'beautiful forbidden fruit' of the male variety, and men... do you guys get depressed when working with better looking males?

It is rather discouraging however, and telling of society that we have gone not after geniuses and talents but looks and beauty.

Which I will (have no choice but to) attempt to follow in order to join and win the competitive rat-race – uhm, a question though, will unattractive tall people get better wages?

And remind me not to tell you how quickly I was employed after graduation.

Room Revamp

2010-06-01T11:31:00.000+08:00

Room Revamp

The writing desk I want! But in black. (:

I want to revamp my room!

Yes, I know it seems really soon since the last.. But then consider this: I last revamp in November! Isn't that really long?

In any case, I only need a small revamp.

1. Someone to drill some metal stuff into the walls to hold up my shelf.
2. 2 new cushion seats! Red and...black? My walls are purple.
3. A new writing desk, in black with chair!
4. MAJOR: new panel floorings for the whole apartment!

Okay, I listed the last for fun. But I really want the first three. (:

Oh, and a nice strong helping hand to carry / drill stuff.

Am I demanding? Hee. I can always save up myself, just saying here.

I gambled

2010-05-31T14:47:00.005+08:00

I gambled

Gambling is also touted to be bad, but sometimes taking a risk is pretty fun too.

Of course, I don't mean the casinos. I'm rather young.

(Okay, maybe that was a bad lead in. But I couldn't resist - I'm young, I'm young, I'm young!)

On Saturday, I took a gamble. It was a pretty huge gamble for me because I have never been much of an adventurous sort - I like my going outs somewhat planned. At least, tell me who I'm going to meet!

But Leonard was such an awesome planner - pun not intended! he's really nice - that I decided to go anyway. Even when he refuse to reply me when I asked who's going.

So I met him, Mervyn, Jian Wei and Kenneth Yau. Yays, me and 4 very tall army boys. I tried to muster my way as best as I can with army talk (thank god for practice), had some intelligent conversation and a rather uncomfortable neck ache from looking up at giants. I only felt better when fellow dwarf Eehong joined us.

Alas, another army boy.

It was better during Prince of Persia when we were all seated and somewhat at eye level. (I sat really straight.) It was rather weird to have 5 guys waiting for you though, when you visit the loo after the movie.

Luckily HuiJing balanced the gene pool somewhat with her presence. At least, I don't look like somebody's sister tagging along, or some insecure girlfriend.

It was so much better when Lianghao, SC and Hazel joined us. I felt more... Hmms. Though I had fun with just the guys, I think we're awesome. (: It just somehow got fun-er when HuiJing, and then the guys joined.

And 'we' includes you, Aileen. (:

We're special. No?

Moochemooche's Corporate Chic

2010-05-31T14:05:00.004+08:00

Moochemooche's Corporate Chic

Face it. When we graduate and arrive in the working world, we inadvertently realize that our trendy school uniform of comfy shorts, jeans and tees are not quite going to cut it. It is hard enough to be taken seriously given our “freshly graduated” status; going to work in sandals and sundresses is a sure way to corporate dungeons.

So before you face the wrath of your classy Armani suited boss for breaching the unspoken office code of knee length skirts and having him or her banish you, I say – take a shopping trip to stock up on some office essentials.

I’m not saying that you should beg your benevolent parents for shopping money and buy out the formal wear section; I meant affordable online shopping.

The wonders of online shopping is definitely not lost on youths. But are you aware of treasure trove Moochemooche?

I call them a treasure, because they are a niche store specializing in office wear that epitomizes corporate chic. Their offerings are affordable enough for the new corporate climber and fashionable enough to go for social gatherings after hours.

Qiu and Joyce, co-owners of Moochemooche, shares, “We started at a time when blogshops are a dime a dozen, but we realized that the working crowd was still poorly served – and here we are!”

Expect to find structured pencil skirts of various cuts and prints in their store, with little details right down to the bit of frills at the back of your knees, to hidden pockets. Their impressive range has got checks, chiffons pleats, classy florals and their all time favourite lace. Pair these structured pieces with soft flowing tops for a chic corporate-appropriate look.

And on a lazy day when you simply cannot be bothered to match your items or when you are running late, simply don one of Moochemooche’s dresses. It is easy to jazz up your look with a simple accessory, such as a skinny belt or watch that you should already own. (If not, these are great basics that you should pop by the mall for!)

The best of all - all items at Moochmooche are no more than $30 each, which gives us room to stretch our dollar and get another piece to add on to our corporate wardrobe.

I love the results as well: a well-dressed young executive.

The ladies behind the brand also manufacture some of their own designs, like the pleated dress above.

“We trawl the web for ideas and adapt them to make them wearable for work. Most importantly, they have to be made of quality material to complete the corporate look.”

With their quality, unique designs and an array of corporate chic look, Moochemooche is definitely helpful to females looking to grow their corporate wardrobe. Unfortunately for the guys, there are no plans to serve the male audience in the near future.

It is all about the love – “The truth is, we are doing this out of our passion for fashion, and guys’ clothes currently don’t excite us as much as female clothes do!”

Moochemooche is also the winner of FreshGrads’s first Fashion Showdown – see the competition here.

And really, memories?

2010-05-28T23:17:00.000+08:00

And really, memories?

I feel better without remembering those. Because they do not make me feel anything; the pictures, the words. It's like a far away place and a different person, and I wonder if there's something wrong with me.

I feel like I've been holding myself back, and it's like a huge breathe of fresh air for me. I don't know if I'm just wondering too much though.

I might very well be.

But I sincerely think I'm not, and I'm glad, because I really like the fresh air. Even if it means trying out what would have seemed bizarre to me: like funky yellow nails, half- gladiator sandals, bodycon skirt, talking about REALLY weird things and being adventurous (in my subtle way. Yes, an oxymoron I know, but I've always like oxymorons).

I think I do some, and I try some, and I hope it helps me get where I want to go. I don't want to sit in the same seat all the time, it gets so very comfortable and makes me fear the big scary world that I don't want to move.

Why not be the reckless thinking driver?

Another oxymoron. :)

Quality Ramblings

2010-05-28T23:07:00.000+08:00

Quality Ramblings

Mommy told me I'm rude today.

She says, if people want to talk, you should listen to them. And when you talk, and find people not paying attention, you should continue anyway. That's only polite.

I disagree, and very much so.

I used to listen to ramblings, on and on and I don't think they made me a better person or more polite. It's a difficulty feigning interest when you're not - and more often then not, the speaker knows it.

But when you're geniunely not interested or ignorant of the uninteresting topic such that you cannot contribute, you can only feign interest, change topics or walk away.

Most tend to feign interest, and soon hanging out with that person becomes a chore. I've had that before, with people who just keeps going on and on and on...

It's really quite dreadful whenever they launch their starting line. Since I don't want to suffer through the pain of having to feign interest (and hence, inciting the belief that I love their ramblings) nor am I capable of walking away, I simply change topics. It usually works - and I feel it sends the message that I'm here to listen, but not when you're going to repeat. Again!

If it doesn't, I simply see you less or plan non-talking gatherings. (I love movies and museums for that. Dad used to talk about his work, with all the technicalities I didn't get, and I was like, oh, let's go catch a movie and we came out happily discussing Ip Man.)

I don't feel I'm being rude. Do you think I am? From my point of view, I'm trying to make hanging out fun for both of us - I don't want to end up avoiding you because you cannot get over your ramblings.

And I'm sure if I ramble to you the way you do and make life sounds so depressing, you'd totally run away. (like 'oh, I think I'm seriously going to lose my job this time.' and you list your subjective reasons that doesn't even really make sense; or 'I think life sucks' to which I can only say, life is always greener elsewhere! Heck, I'm wish I'm a huge superstar who can sing for a living. The free clothes, world tours!)

I ramble too, in fact I ramble a lot. I used to be able to ramble about my day for an entire night, and to do it without fail everyday. But I realize my audience's not captivated - I think I was just background noise to whatever they were doing. So, why ramble to somebody who is barely listening and not going to comment nor advise? I might as well direct my rambles to a toy which I can hug to sleep later, or to blog/rant online for whoever's interested to reply.

I'm sure, out there, there must be somebody interested in your ramblings; someone to ramble about the same things to. Isn't that more fulfilling?

Just my thoughts on ramblings to the right person and quality conversations. Because seriously, I really loathe listening to ramblings.

And you see, I'm rambling now.

We stare in eyes of Fear

2010-05-27T11:54:00.004+08:00

We stare in eyes of Fear
...to stay in the air-conditioned room.

The fire alarm just went off. I sense a hesitation. A brief momentary pause, where the mind jumps into thinking "Now what? Do I run?

It might be good to get away from staring at the screen. That gets quite irksome, especially when my eyes get tired.

But. I would have to go out in the whole sun - is that worth it?

Hmm hey, this comfy chair in the cold office room is actually quite comfortable. Nah, I think I'll stay put.

Unless everyone runs."

So I'm still sitting here. I guess everyone thought the same. We all share a fear of Singapore's humidity.

An Interview with Mr Bee

2010-05-26T17:16:00.001+08:00

An Interview with Mr Bee

It was a good meeting with Karl. (: He's really fun and interesting to talk to, but that could simply be because I'm the interviewer and he, the interviewee under my thumb. Heh.

I've got quite a bit of information and funny bits for the article, which is great. Because I might have killed our working relationship by guessing him to be in his 30s. He's only 28. I can only say, I'm bad with guessing age.

I mean, I ever thought Christina Aguilera is Madonna's age! [I was really really young then.]

I think that I need to work on speaking louder too. I find that while I'm easily irked by loud speakers who practically shout their conversation, so I go right the other way and annoy everyone with my too-soft tone.

Bah.

Article should be up next - watch out for it, Entrepreneur: Karl Chong, Beeconomic. (: It should be a good one.

Captcha caught cha

2010-05-26T11:50:00.005+08:00

Captcha caught cha

MailChimp, you're annoying! ):
If you are reading this, I want you to know this: I have been trying to pass your review for many many times. BUT I cannot send it in because for some reason, it always says:

"Please click back and fill in the captcha with the word in the image"

Well. I'm sure I type in the right word I saw there.

Never mind, being supremely tech-savvy, I went to your contact us section for help. I keyed in all my information happily, knowing the powers-to-be at MailChimp will help. Alas, at the bottom: another captcha.

RAWR. Look, I'm quite sure I'm human and not a bod. Just let me use MailChimp already.

THE Weekend List

2010-05-26T01:47:00.004+08:00

THE Weekend List

This Vesak Day – and very much look forward to weekend! – I will do different from everybody else, and from my usual self.

The devout Buddhists will release all manners of animals (seriously, this is EVIL. Read ST!) and burn joysticks.

The enthusiastic teenagers and youth my age will be out shopping, partying and in general, socializing.

I, good old boring Jojo, will sleep. Among other stuff.

Cramming for an 100% exam based module’s Final Exams – and first whahaha! – is no joke. Especially if it’s law. Especially if it’s 6 days into the module. ESPECIALLY if it’s law.

Considering that it’s a closed book paper, I should be killing myself. Instead, I’m mugging on a working weekday midnight.

Which is why I pledge my weekend to good old sleep. I seriously need to get rid of these irksome eye bags.
Yes, the only reason I want to sleep is usually because of said irritating eye bags.

I have this theory that sleep is a complete waste of time. If those eight snoozing hours were devoted to other stuff, I would have graduated in half the time / written a book and be a famous author / earning lots of money while studying / maybe just watched a lot more movies and dramas.

Okay, maybe just option D. But you can get my drift – better use of time.

So my purpose of blogging: My Weekend to-do List
My Weekend List:
• Read Solar by Ian McEwan!
• Attempt to sell piano and reorganize room going to stay on to-do for a VERY long time ):
• Create scrapbook (:
• Select awesome photos to print
• Sleep
• Paint my nails! Amazing how long that takes

Back to studying.

PS. Hmms, you know, I brought up so many topics that would have given many a journalists many articles opportunities. No wonder they’re the one making the ka-ching.

Perhaps I’m just an old old person.

2010-05-25T19:39:00.000+08:00

Perhaps I’m just an old old person.

I wonder if I’m perhaps old inside. How many teenagers would consider going out at 7pm plus late?

The Best Legal Story I've seen in a while

2010-05-24T13:34:00.006+08:00

Best Legal Story I’ve seen in a while

Surgeon in Legal Tussle over Dog
By K.C. Vijayan in The Straits Times, published 19 May 2010

Here’s the gist: Surgeon and girlfriend bought a terrier in US, registered themselves as co-owners. Later, upon splitting up cordially, the ex girlfriend returned to Singapore with the dog, registering with the relevant authorities as owner.

One fine day, she discovered the dog is lost and after a week’s search, found it to be in her ex’s place in Singapore. She alleged that the surgeon has stole the dog; he insist that he’s the co-owner and is therefore entitled to keeping the dog; she falls into depression.

The lady decides to take legal action – suing him for custody of the dog. So far, legal actions have taken SGD 8,000 (note that a new dog of the same breed will cost SGD 1,500, but yes, I understand the attachment to the dog). In the latest development, the Court granted that the dog should reside with the lady as she is registered as owner in Singapore.

And this brouhaha took place in the High Court. Why, doesn’t the family court take care of custody cases?

Okay, I am not anti-dog-owners or have a hatred for dogs. I like HuiJing and Zorro, Aileen and her two dogs well enough :P

But to bring an ex to court because you guys cannot amicably resolve the ownership is just too funny to pass up.

Anyway, isn’t the High Court good for cases with damages above SGD 250,000? (correct me if I’m wrong) Is she planning to claim that much for her bouts of depression and suffering?

Just an opinion. (:

And, some comments on ST:
• “when love is over…. The fury of a woman scorn”
• “…ST is trying to tell us that rich people in Singapore have nowhere to spend their money and that even doctors are not beyond petty acts of theft”
• “these two people should be locked up in...Woodbridge (and) they should also put the ST editor in the next cell… Why waste good paper and space in ST for an idiotic wayang show… RIDICULOUS!”
• “they call it Institute of Mental Health”

WHAHAHAHAH! This totally made my morning.

Songs I like - this week!

2010-05-23T19:04:00.007+08:00

Songs I like - this week!

命中注定我愛你 - 半情歌

Jordin Sparks - Next to You

I keep putting Next to You on loop, for some reason.

PS. I bought that skirt! (:

Topshop Skirt

2010-05-20T15:55:00.007+08:00

Topshop Skirt

I want this skirt from Topshop.

NICE SKIRT!

Bahh, see. I actually have to save up for a $56 skirt. Talk about being a poor thing.

I also want this loose comfy striped tee from Topshop! But I couldn't find it online. Reserved a piece though! Yays! (:

And yes - I fully am going to buy this and not wait for my birthday. Just couldn't resist using the labels tool.

Topshoppin' Murdoch..ian?

2010-05-20T15:11:00.004+08:00

Topshoppin' Murdoch..ian?

I am a MURDOCH STUDENT! :D

I applied and all yesterday evening. Horror bridging classes start tonight, 7-10pm, and continues on my super precious weekends - ninetofive. To top the splendor of it off, the exams are following Wednesdays. %#%*&$*&%*(^!

There are a total of 4 bridging modules, before I am giving a short respite. School will officially start in August.

Why am I not excited at the prospect of studying and working? You tell me.

RAWR. To offset this oh-dear-I'll-have-SO-much-to-do-mood, I took a little shopping trip. And bought! Hareem Pants from Topshop. Cue screams. I am SO excited about it! It's a pretty soft grey, with a black waistband - plus it's duper comfy.

I'm going to lessen my guilt by promising - I'll wear it super often! And when it's getting worn, I'll wear it to sleep! It is that comfortable.

Ask me out and I'll show you! :D

PS. I'm super sniffly today. ): And so sleepy. How to go to class!

Olio Café

2010-05-18T12:40:00.007+08:00

One needs a beer. Another wants an ice chendol. And the third is really craving a shot of espresso. With such difficult people to feed, Olio Café is the place for you.

The Food:

Olio Restaurant and Café prides itself on its paradoxes. The menu is one great example – offering an array of dishes like Thai Chicken Mango Salad alongside Moroccan Mixed Lamb Grill, Italian pizzas and pasta, and Japanese curry rice. The adventurous can also get a Beef Rendang Lasagne, a fusion of east and west.

I wondered how on earth was the chef going to get every dish perfect. But fortunately for him, my companions and I were there for Olio Café’s high tea.

Our favourite cake by far is the Olio Sizzling Brownie. For $6.50, enjoy a mish-mash of cold and warm delectable brownie drenched with hot fudge on a hotplate. A generous scoop of vanilla gelato and finely chopped nuts completes this definite must-try. A warning though: Finish it fast, before the chocolate sizzles away.

Another choice would be the Chocolate Mousse Cake ($6.30). Layered chocolate cake of fudge and deliciously sinful dark chocolate, topped with chocolate sauce and – you guessed it! – chocolate cream, it is a dream come true for chocolate lovers. It was love at first sight for me.

To offset the chocolate, we also ordered an Apple Blueberry Pie. Though not on the menu, it looks so appetizing in the cake fridge that we just had to try it. However, the golden-crusted pie disappoints in the taste department – the fillings tasted like blueberry-flavoured apple sauce. My biggest grouse is that it lacks the homey feeling a truly good apple pie gives.

Coffee was no grand affair either. My companion complained that her Long Black lacks the aroma that a rich coffee would have and it was overly bitter. Being a fan of coffee and an ardent chocolate lover, I tried the Mocha. It was rather disappointing. Personally, I thought it tasted like chocolate drink Milo.

The Mood:

Olio Café is a comfortable place for soulful respite. Take a break from shopping (its Marina Square branch) or studying (NUS and Kaplan City Campus). The modern mirrors and glass panels are complemented with homey wooden counter and shelves. Clean minimalistic-looking booths paired with brown leather armchairs tucked against the wall.

One big plus point is the excellent customer service. The service staff is friendly and efficient – the staff serving me could actually make order-taking feel like a friendly conversation.

In all, Olio does deliver its promise of “Affordable Luxury”. Though its use of paradoxes in the menu still makes me worry about the quality, Olio has an appealing mish-mash of factors that can draw the crowd.

Related Links: Olio Café, on FreshGrads!

Blogskinnin'

2010-05-17T14:24:00.003+08:00

Blogskinnin'

Yays! I've got a new blogskin courtesy of Yanny! :D
THANK YOU WOMAN!

I LOVE MEATSHIELD, my new pet dog. All virtual, no poop, no walks! Yes, I'm lazy like that.

Everyone, I'll link you up again. Gimme your links!

Twenties Girl

2010-05-14T13:36:00.003+08:00

From the author of the much-adored Shopaholic Series comes a book about family and life. Admittedly, Twenties Girl sticks to a tried, tested and perhaps tired model of a chic girl’s reading book that has the boys scorning – but it is so engaging and not at all a dumb blonde book that I simply could not put it down until I finished it at 4 am.

Kinsella’s heroine is Lara Lington – a typical failing-in-all-aspects girl living in a bustling hip city. Her newly started recruitment company is in the red, her best friend and business partner is off holidaying in exotic Goa with no definite plans to return, she knows nothing about recruitment and she has just been dumped by the love of her life.

Added to the mix is her second-class membership in the Lington family – because she’s not part of the Lington Coffee Empire – and constant visits by her Great Aunt Sadie’s ghost who bugs Lara to solve the former’s ancient problems.

The delightfully problematic story weaves in and out of Lara’s troubles and her exploits with Sadie in London. Together they learn to dance the Charleston, dress in 1920s clothes in broad daylight, find Sadie’s precious dragonfly necklace and ultimately to like and love each other.

It is most touching when Lara begins to appreciate the young spirit that lives on in every ageing body, especially that of her Great Aunt Sadie. Twenties Girl is truly a great read for escaping your life for a bit, and a fabulous model to fashion your daydreams after.

If this book goes to the silver screen the way Shopaholic did, you’ll find me first in line for a ticket.

Sukie!

2010-05-12T18:01:00.006+08:00

I think Sukie's cute. :D Though she's a Hong Kong-er trying to improve her Chinese and English.

Check out Taiwan Super Idol Zeng Yu Jia too!

Mom and Me: Heart-to-Heart

2010-05-10T16:56:00.003+08:00

Jojo: oh hey, arent you supposed to create a new email address?
Mom: very busy now
Jojo: oh. sorry. (pauses) castle age? :P
Mom: nonooooooo farming hhahhaha

Good grief.

cont'd
Jojo: TSKKK
Mom: dont worry will cook for you
Jojo: *goes off to blog*
Mom: see you later
Jojo: -_- okay

Mommy's Day

2010-05-09T23:59:00.000+08:00

HAPPY MOMMY'S DAY!

Thank you for letting me buy you the overpriced expensive shades because I really really want to spend all that money on you to make you happy. :P

Heh. ♥

Decency

2010-05-06T18:47:00.001+08:00

Why do people insist on wearing such unfriendly unforgiving clothes
that looks downright eye-popping?

Case in point: lady in the street in white thin cotton dress that
looks so sheer, I can make out her lingerie quite clearly. Not sexy,
particularly on a less than hourglass-looking figure.

The lingerie wasn't particularly pretty either. Ditto the dress.

Not that I was trying to see - trust me. Neither am I trying to say
that you can only look good with a hourglass figure. I'm saying: don't wear
your ten year old nightgown on the streets.

And PS, buy pretty pjs. It doesn't have to be silk, but perhaps muster
a decent?

Case 2: lady with nice hair, nice skin, nice... Wait is that a shirt?
A long-sleeved black netted top from neck to wrist to waist, with a
black tube for decent coverage. I hesitate at using 'decent' because
it's anything but. I can see way too much that I am, again, unwilling
and appalled and disturbed by.

Hence this word of caution - Please do the decent thing for yourself.

I wonder if I should post this up at all.

The Happy Feeling

2010-05-06T00:13:00.000+08:00

STAR light star bright
first star i see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
have a wish I wish tonight...

I'm sitting in a cab, on my way home. It's driving past the streets and I can see the pretty stars.

And I'm really happy.
Because I have such awesome people around me.

I really feel happy inside.
Like I was telling HuiJing; on the bus over, I just thought of some random moment and laughed out loud. It kept me happy the whole day.

Until she and Lianghao teased me about not receiving a text I paraphrased "only people with friends" receive. RAWR

But I do really feel happy happy, probably happier than I have been feeling for some time. Perhaps I was just too focused on what's happening around me to take a step back to see if I am making progress and being truly happy inside. After all, uh inner happiness is important most; happiness from whatever's happening only last so long.

Now I really am happy.

YAYS.

But I thought.

2010-05-05T10:19:00.003+08:00

:))))))))))))))

Courtesy of Yanny and whichever song it is!

Loves Yanny :D

2010-05-04T20:54:00.002+08:00

THANK YOU YANNY!

For agreeing to help me do up a new blog skin! I will love you many many! :3

I will create:
- a birthday list! :P
- a photography page, honouring not my skill but my friends
- a list of books / movies to catch!

Heh yays!

Hero

2010-05-03T22:40:00.003+08:00

I'm listening to Hero by Enrique on loop, over and over again.

We Self-Entertain too.

2010-05-03T16:23:00.001+08:00

Yanny: http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapsg/3873153906/in/set-72157622031776997/
CLASSIC SARONG PARTY GIRL SIOL~~~~~~~~~~ AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAA

Jojo: oh jeezzz that's super old

Yanny: and super obiang =3

Jojo: probably considered SUPER trendy in that era

Yanny: YEAH maybe jojo we'd dressed up like that if we were in the 70's! but seriously i wish we were teens in the 70's.. so idyllic la. i'd probably be like climbing trees and selling fruit for a part time job already LOL! and maybe you might open the first manicurist shop in singapore in orchard road, where that place
wasnt so hip with all that consumerist crap infesting the streets

Jojo: hahahahahahhahahahhahhahha!

Yanny: REALLY MAH. :S

Jojo: i like the idea! :D

Yanny: hahhahahahahahahaaa me tewww =D and there might be real village hunks HAHAHAHAHA OMG~ XD and maybe krado might not be so open abt being gay :D

Jojo: hahaha he WILL

Yanny: and he might get fined for getting long hair! 70s: 'hi guys im gay' OMGWTFBBQ 2010: 'hi guys im gay' --- oh okay. :D

Jojo: 2010: "oh cool! wanna go gay clubbing tgt?"

Yanny: HAHAHAHAHAHA YAH i wonder what xinyi will do in the 70's ah

Jojo: uh knit and sew at home

Yanny: maybe she'll be like: omg yanny THE MONKEYS ARE FOLLOWING YOU XD OH YAH OH MY GOD POOR HER

Jojo: she reminds me of a good girl

Yanny: yeah yeah and everyday we'll poke our faces at the window and scream: AYE COME OUT LEH WE GO OUT LEPAK and then she'll be like: noooooooooooooo i canttttttttttt i gotta sew this thing for my ah ma. OH OH AND KRADO WILL BE DRIVING HIS OLD LAO POK CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 HAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHA its called THE OLD AND THE CURIOUS

Jojo: hahhahahahhahahaah

Yanny: and while we're piling at the back seat, his tyre flattens and breaks down and he'll start screaming KNN CCB I HATE YOU FAT ASS GIRLS or smth (insert more hokkien expletives)

Jojo: you should totally make us your crazy crew in village hunk! Or create a series of us muahahahahahaha like The Famous Five? But set in sg 70s :D

Yanny: HAHAHAAHAHAHAH maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe! :D:D:D:D:D tts a gd idea mans~ 4 girls and a gay man i smell mayhem! And that rhymes! cool it can be our freakin' tagline! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

pauses)

LOL THIS CONVO IS SO LAME SIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The Men's Suit

2010-05-03T13:30:00.003+08:00

The Men's Suit

When it comes to buying business suits, most think of a quick trip to G2000 or perhaps Zara. Enter store, grab, try and the issue is happily resolved. But do guys really know which suit is right for their body?

Suits have always been a staple in men’s wardrobes. While remaining true to the classic design, a good suit for today’s context should have a modern silhouette. That is to say, it should fit well and look sharp. But please do not zoom in on the skinny pants. A more masculine look should include broad shoulder, a slim waist and slim trousers. Think military without the boxy feeling.

One revived trend in men’s suit is the double-breasted suit. In 1980s, the popular double-breasted suit was originally designed to hide undesirable fats. Now, with a better cut worked into the design (the all important modern silhouette), it can help accent the perfect masculine shape.

When shopping for a perfect suit, also do look out for a longer lapel (the flap on your jacket). Ideally, the jacket lapels should end on the waistline. This minute detail will portray height. A well-cut suit will also allow for a visually slimmer waist.

Finally, with men’s suits going back in time, their corresponding classic prints are also making a comeback. Embrace patterns such as the houndstooth, the herringbone and the fairly common pinstripe. These prints do not have to be put on an actually suit; they would look good on a shirt or a tie as well.

Another detail to consider is the buttons on the suit. It is usually good to stick to two buttons on your suit as it is a perfectly fashionable and lasting choice. The confident guy can attempt the three buttons as seen in Ralph Lauren, while the tall dude will convey stature with a simple one button.

Perhaps the suit sounds like too much of an investment for men. But do think about it: A good well-cut piece can bring you places – from work with a collared shirt to play with a tee on under your (less formal) suit jacket. After all, it is a classic staple that will never go out of fashion.

Related Links: Fashion Beans, Text Aisle, on FreshGrads!

Biker Dude

2010-05-02T23:14:00.002+08:00

I bumped into my neighbour on the way home, and was happily admiring his black leather biker cap. It was sitting jauntily on his head and looks mighty cute (the cap I mean).

Being a complimenting sort, I told him how nice it looks. He stared at me and took it off and shoved it into my shopping bag. "Take it, it's yours." I was so shocked, do people earn gifts that way?

In any case, I still haven't worn it.

I think he may have gained more mileage out of the jaunty cap than I ever will.

Should I return it? I feel guilty.

Bah.

2010-04-30T14:49:00.003+08:00

I wonder if I am out of my depth.

I have a foot (or both) out of where my peers are, yet I have not found a place to rest it (them). It's getting tiring. Like I'm too old yet too young.

Jang Geun Suk

2010-04-26T21:38:00.002+08:00

This song from Beethoven Virus - when Ru-Mi was leaving Gun-Woo.

"...you're so calm when leaving me
I couldn't get closer to you
made my tears fall
just like a fool, just like a child
better let it be"

My heart broke for Jang Geun Suk ):

Isnt he cute...! Hee. I seldom rave about stars, so this is one cute guy. (:

Over You, by Chris Daughtry

2010-04-26T18:08:00.003+08:00

Rawr! I wanted to put up a song, but it was all either copyrighted or terrible remix with of a television series / Chris Daughtry's image / cutesy graphics.

So, a link: Over You, by Chris Daughtry

I'm slowly deleting everything.

OpenTrolley Bookstore

2010-04-26T12:59:00.003+08:00

If you are a nerdy bookworm like I am, you would appreciate OpenTrolley Bookstore – an online bookstore with all the latest titles, the best savings and even a home delivery service.

As shared on its homepage, OpenTrolley’s rates are lower due to their bulk purchase agreements and exclusive deals with publishing houses and distributors. This rate is brought to consumers who can enjoy the discounts without any membership card purchases.

A huge point in OpenTrolley’s favour is its huge collection of bestsellers, comics, business books and many more. Despite its young age (established May 2008), it has more than 1 million US titles in stock.

The bookstore operates like any online store – you pick the books you want, add to your shopping cart and pay by card, PayPal, bank transfer or cheque. Choose from home delivery for convenience or self-collection for further savings.

My favourite service is the care they extend to your beloved books. When packing your book, they ensure that you are given a fresh copy, shrink-wrapped to prevent accidental water exposure and cushioned into boxes to prevent dog-ears.

Right now, there are also discounts: DBS/POSB cardholders enjoys 10% of all books below $25 until 31 May, while Maybank Platinum MasterCard holders receive 7% off storewide plus 5% rebate. All OpenTrolley members are also entitled to free delivery with a minimum of 5 books purchase from now until 30 April.

Related Links: OpenTrolley, on FreshGrads!

Adorable Adabelle

2010-04-25T19:41:00.003+08:00

Adorable Adabelle!

On Friday, when meeting for dinner:
Jojo: where are you?
Ada: reaching in 15 mins! I was attacking by a group of flying moths at the bus stop ?!?!?!?!
Jojo: Hahahaha! Wow you okay?
Ada: I'm traumatized. I think I'm like a pretty flower so they attacked me. LOL.

Heh, isn't she cute? And yes, she was very brightly dressed.

Grace, Onboard!

2010-04-23T14:11:00.002+08:00

Grace, Onboard!

Getting your own transport is very exciting. From picking the car model to the colour of your car to the material of your seats, it is something a new car owner would be thrilled about. Or at least, I know I would. I would even buy accessories to pretty up my car.

But getting a new car is a tremendous responsibility. Do you pick up your friends and send them home? Do you – oh dear – become the designated driver every time you go out and have fun?

And of course, the real worry for fresh graduates is getting cars. Can you afford fuel, parking, ERP charges and other countless payments after coughing out a sum for the high COE prices and a car befitting of your job? For the lucky ones who received a new car or managed to buy a good second-hand, can you stand seeing your friends buy all the latest toys while you continue to cough out money for fuel?

But that’s okay.

Laugh at them, as they face the wrath of the other sardines on the buses.

I am sardine no 54321. I am a faceless passenger muscling my way onto a bus because I decided to get an iTouch, countless bags, clothes and Godiva chocolates instead of a Chevy.

Said bus is full of people; yet, the minute the bus pulls over, the crowd cluster around the closed doors and push their way up to get a seat. Everyone else crowds along the aisle – making it hard for anyone to move anywhere. I need not even hold on to a railing, really. When the bus makes a sudden move, I just rock with the crowd and sway myself upright again. There is simply no space for me to sprawl onto, in any case.

And this is on a good day.

Sometimes, you get on a bus with unhappy people. And we all know unhappy people are not the most polite people. I have endured perfectly pleasant-looking executives stomp on my foot as they hurry past to get a seat to ease their own tiredness and young people yakking on their phones about the weirdest topics.

Like, “If he died tomorrow, can I use his bus pass? Or would it have expired?” I was so shocked; I stared for a minute then quickly look away. What if she plots for my bus pass?

The straw that broke this tolerant camel’s back was today, when I hopped on a bus to get to work. It was crowded, of course. As I edged in, a lady muscled her way from the rear to the front of the bus – to collect her bag, which she left. I wonder why. As her hand gripped the bag and retreated, the bus moved. Her hand flew out to grab the pole and hit me on my cheek en route. The audacity of it!

Worse, she looked at me as if I hit her hand with my cheek and turn her back on me. Mind you, people usually stand side by side on a bus aisle. I glared at her, but she probably could not feel the angry eyes burning into her.

What I am most amazed by is this lack of grace on public transport. I am usually big on saving Gaia; but this lack of grace makes me beg for my own transport, rising COE, fuel and congestion or not.

I guess Singa, our own Courtesy Lion have much more to do in educating residents to be civil and polite members of society.

happy besties

2010-04-22T17:05:00.002+08:00

huijing: *huggies* you you're the bestest

jojo: why! what happened? i mean, of course i am the bestest. but did something happened?

huijing: no! HAHA! why? must something happen?

jojo: cause you sound so emotional! Haha okay, good that nothing bad happened (: teehee this is so funny darling! *hugs hugs*

huijing: O.O we're les! honestly, we are

jojo: hahaha no! eeeeeeeeeeyur! we're happy besties (=

huijing: HAHAHAS sure MUACKIES HUGGIES BABY DARLING LOVE YOU hahahas

jojo: hahhaha *innocent face* dont besties do that?

huijing: *slaps* dun pretend HAHA i think we all have little devils in us. we're mean by nature HAHA

jojo: OUCH! Noooo! it's just youuuu! feel lonelyyyyy. the deceit! the darkness

huijing: sure. how wold you describe lh then?

Heh, HuiJing loves me more than Lucas. =D

Breaking the Tongue

2010-04-22T14:06:00.002+08:00

Breaking the Tongue may not be the easiest book on your to-read list but it is strangely absorbing. Author Vyvyane Loh weaves an emotional story of human failings and human strength right on this little island, Singapore.

This book is neither nationalistic nor biased in its story telling. Instead, it is a recount of a history we ought to have known, but perhaps never really did.

There is Claude Lim, a Chinese boy of an Anglophile family stuck between two cultures – an inability to fit with the British and a failure to understand his own language and culture. Jack Winchester is a British family friend, who is admired in Singapore for his skin colour. Yet, in Britain, he is nothing more than a barely surviving, common man on the street. Aiding them during the Japanese invasion is Han Ling-li, a Chinese nurse who is passionately worried about the future of her country.

The story weaves in and out of the lives of these characters and the musings of a Body; whom we learn is the captured Claude, tortured to confusion. Added to the mix are expatriates who believe that they are upper class citizens as well as nationalists and fifth columnists (Japanese spies), all mingling as the Japanese advanced towards Singapore.

To complete the candid story of a history I thought I knew and Claude’s ultimate appreciation for his true heritage, Loh finished with a Chinese passage – of Claude describing Ling-li’s torture ordeal.

Perhaps the most appealing draw of Breaking the Tongue is the light it sheds on precious moments of humanity. Are the Brits that mighty? Are the Japanese troops really saviours?

Nothing is infallible, and nothing is completely evil.

Small and tiny (:

2010-04-22T10:31:00.000+08:00

Having looked at my previous boss’s progress from schoolgirl to the current career woman than she is now, makes me realized how young and small I am.

What have I done that I can really be proud of?

I am only a graduate, holding only a diploma.

Bah ):

2010-04-20T14:36:00.000+08:00

Bahhhhhhhh!

I feel lousy.

Go away Mr Smart.

Bah Agnes B

2010-04-19T11:28:00.002+08:00

I was rather impressed with the office workers at Ubi.

Rather than the onslaught of fake LV, Gucci and Prada bags (I mean come on. If you have those bags and you carry them onboard a mad rush hour 58 to Ubi, you must be quite mad.), many people was carrying an Agnes B. I was impressed and proud, and looked forward to the day where I can own several of these better bags and tote them around.

Until.

I saw them being sold at Bedok Interchange. At first, I thought it was a remarkable copy. But upon my horrified-amused inspection, it look exactly...like the one everyone was carrying! Heh.

It's priced at 10 bucks.

Rawr.

My Coffee Bean coffee cost almost 10 bucks too.

Friends?

2010-04-16T15:43:00.006+08:00

Friends - lovely people.

“My friends are my estate”- Emily Dickinson

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell

So, thank you friends.

1. Lianghao – after all you found out first (:
jojo: talk to me. I’m sad )=
lh: why? Break up?
jojo: aren’t you sick of asking me the same question? This is the 5th time.
lh: oh. No, not sick.
jojo: there are more reasons to be sad about
lh: really?
jojo: such a romantic, awwww! … I broke up
lh: cool
…
lh: you see, I told you sex in a relationship is important
jojo: yes daddy, I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you

2. Krado
krads: hey lets meet for dinner tmr alright? We talk it through
jojo: SWEETIE! “hugs* thank you! My god, let’s not make it a sob session yeah
krads: ZOMBIES flock together ok!?
jojo: hahahahahahahah! Yes zomdaddykins =D
krads: ………….. IAMNOTYOURDADDYOMGWTF
jojo: haha you know I love you anyway =P
krads: eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! SORRYIGAYCAN :D

3. Yanny
yanny: nobody is infallible
jojo: I suppose. The future is always uncertain. I wish it was easy, like some video game. Once you kill a certain number of baddies and level up, you don’t go back down.
yanny: hahahaah, me too! I wish I was like some FBI agent
…
yanny: if someone cheats on you, would you go back with him?
jojo: nope. Cheating is sooooo over. Once I find it to be true, I’ll slap the idiot and run away =D
yanny: I’ll text him “I will disappear from your life. PS. Don’t get crabs”

4. Ee Hern
ee: mojojojo
jojo: rawr
ee: you got the mojo yo
jojo: I feel like the evil monkey
ee: clap, monkey, clap!
jojo: *bites*
ee: bad monkey!
Jojo: hey hey!
ee: *whips out a shot gun*
jojo: *bite your tum tum*
ee: *loads, locks, stocks*
jojo: you wouldnt dare!
ee: "buh bye, you badass"
jojo: )=
ee: *pumps rounds into flailing monkeh*
jojo: bah happy now?
ee: nope
jojo: you shouldn’t be! You lost a friend
ee: *reloads and shoots dead monkeh's face*
jojo: goodbye
ee: hahaha
jojo: *ignores you*
…
jojo: heh really ignore me
ee: hahaha
jojo: i’m gonna post evidence of you killing me up!
ee: HAHA TEE HEE make it more violent! =D
jojo: stares I’m dead remember?
ee: you are not officially the reanimated dead hurrah
jojo: zombie mojo

Hmms, friends Emily Dickinson? I'm not sure they are worth your estates. =P

):

2010-04-16T08:09:00.000+08:00

Only after 'we' has finished and ended do I realized how much we didn't do. I never got to hug you everyday, I never got to tell you that you are the best boyfriend ever and I love you.

But the things that we do, I really miss. I miss cuddling with you on my small couch especially.

There are things we haven't done in a long time - going to the beach, bar, baking, watching a movie at Cathay in the couple seats.

And things I had looked forward too: going to sleep beside you, learning how to cook from your mom, bugging you to finish scrapbooking and really do it.

I really miss you terribly.

But I also realized how much we lacked. Did we ever try to make each other feel better when we talk to the other sex? And I don't think we did sweet things very often.

I wish there was the chance to start now. And I still miss you terribly.

Clash of the Titans

2010-04-15T14:22:00.000+08:00

Clash of the Titans was a highly anticipated movie, with a rich dose of Greek mythology, good old sword-wielding action scenes and a pretty good cast. Couple this with a fantastic trailer, and you will get flocks of eager moviegoers. FreshGrads joined the fanatic excitement at the box office to tell you if you should give it a go, or to miss it completely.

The star-studded cast of Sam Worthington (Avatar) as Perseus, Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List) as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter films) as Hades should make for an entertaining show, even if they were all dressed disturbingly in horribly short skirts. Perseus even donned several belts that fashionistas would love to get.

However, the movie suffered from a case of bad character development and weak storyline. There are many characters in the movie, from Perseus’s fishermen family, citizens of Argos, the Olympians and the brave soldiers that fought with Perseus. Yet, none were developed enough that they are special and memorable. The flat characters made the 3D action movie thrilling, but not moving. Think 2012, with only nature as the obstacle and no antagonist as all.

In any case, the weak storyline made the movie very much a wham, bang and roll credits sort. The dialogue was not memorable, nor particularly witty or meaningful. In fact, the only phrase everyone loved was “Release the Kraken!” – which was rather spoilt I felt, by the not too scary appearance by the sea monster. For perhaps five minutes while Perseus zipped around the Kraken and saved Princess Andromeda, the creature only thrashed wildly about the city. Cue screams.

And if you enjoy your Greek mythology, you might be wondering why Perseus got together with Io when the myth dictates his romance with Andromeda. Besides, Danae – Perseus’s birth mom – was supposed to be the King’s virginal daughter, not wife. Did I also mention that the Kraken belongs in Norse mythology, not Greek? And just one more, Cassiopeia – Andromeda’s mom – supposedly compared her own beauty to the sea nymphs, not her daughter’s to the Olympians.

Are you still watching this movie?

My movie partner laughed when Perseus wield the sword Zeus gifted him – as the sword magicked from a simple metal rod to a deadly sword, he went “Light Saber!”

I say, we should just wait for Shrek Forever After. Or if you are really keen on the Titans, grab the release on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Meanwhile, I will go figure out why the movie knocked How to Tame a Dragon off the charts with USD 64 million.

I'm afraid.

2010-04-12T08:30:00.002+08:00

I'm afraid.

I wanted to be less reliant; now I'm making myself so it as not to let myself get too hurt when you go.

I feel it is inevitable. If you do leave, we will be gone. You will find someone there, you will want someone by your side instead of half a world away. And I, who's to say I wouldn't miss you so much I turn away?

After all, it is a long 4 years. We would have changed so much. There's the off-chance you might like it so much you don't come back.

What should I do then?

I have funny conversations.

2010-04-09T11:30:00.003+08:00

(8.43pm)
SC: Hey, you free next Saturday?
Jojo: Where to?
SC: My place. My brother will be out, parents are not home, I'm going out... so can you help me babysit my sister?
Jojo: (guffaws) You're serious? Hahahahahha! I'm charging you SGD50.
SC: What!
Jojo: Our friendship is worth that much.
SC's sister: huhhh! Can give discount?
SC: I'll give you my sister for SGD50.
SC's sister: heyyyy!

Heh. =D

Yanny Jojo no-Krado show

2010-04-08T14:52:00.003+08:00

The Yanny Jojo and no-Krado talkshow!
Look for the common topic.

10.21am
yanzo: sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppy >_<
jojo: me tooooooooooooo! i keep sleeping at 1am D=
yanzo: SAME!!!!!!!!!!!! DDDD= i slept at two last nite.. was reading fanfiction >_<
jojo: hahaha FANFICTION? what, the twilight saga? -_-
yanzo: HELL NO! eeeww disgusting! hahahahaaa! i read OTHER fanfiction!
jojo: oooh, high school musical? =P
yanzo: NO! bioshock, heavy rain, inglourious basterds guy stuff, mostly
jojo: i still havent watched that
yanzo: u have to! hitler has never been so funny when he's pissed. and the plot is awesome
…
yanzo: i hadnt formed a list of books ' To Read '. ive downloaded a few book off the net but i hadnt got to reading them
jojo: i have a short list
yanzo: coool! lemme guess: trashy romance novels D=
jojo: rawr
yanzo: HAHAAHAH. =P
jojo: i'm much more than that, diversity okay
yanzo: oh thank god you are
jojo: honestly, those are just feel-goods
yanzo: so they indulge in their fantasies where the guy is always lean, half naked
jojo: usually rich
yanzo: with six pacs
jojo: and dark brooding and handsome
yanzo: and then like sweeping the lady up in his arms
jojo: nothing literature about it
yanzo: yeah phoo! i'd rather be in love with a drug addicted, FBI agent
jojo: and whatever you. you like lean brooding photographer/artists types
yanzo: OH YESH!! yes indeed >=) not too emo though, gets annoying when they dont smile
jojo: yanny at her most gu-niang moment!

1.27pm
yanzo: cinnamon melts is killer. the new treat at mcdonald's. its like diabetic man
jojo: oooooh
yanzo: yeah damn sweet! and sugary yuck
jojo: okay, i wont try. thank you for being my guinea pig! =D
yanzo: well u can review and lambast mcdonald's evil regime of making singaporeans teetering towards obesity with its diabetic cinnamon melts..
jojo: if we cant be a super nation like US, at least we can have their super obesity
yanzo: LOL yeah and we'll produce fat mcdonald babies
jojo: eeeyur! i dont believe white and chubby kids are cute i prefer my boys lean =P
yanzo: LOL me tewwww lean hee. LIKE THAT HOT FELLA I POSTED IN MY BLOG

3.09pm
yanzo: u know smth. why cant the army guys here in sg be more gd looking! :( im watching this WWII series n that guy is 23 and he's awesomely hot
jojo: because they're not actors acting as army guys
yanzo: and i think of the guys here and they're like B L A H seriously! Haha im disappointed with the local talent :P
jojo: local ... talents?
yanzo: but then again im not anything much so... i cant really bitch can I?
jojo: it's not a talent to be good looking! haha, of course you can complain
yanzo: LOL yeah i need some tall guy with brownish black hair and very light blue eyes LOL! k i know, 'dream on yanny!' HAHA. its like my fave combo :X
jojo: contacts! how else? Blue eyes
yanzo: no wayyyy ! :P i dont like my guy to look like a cyborg!
jojo: 'ello then go to london baby. guys with real blue eyes. comes with sexy brit accent too
yanzo: OOOOH YES. or an american
jojo: they have a better design industry anyway
yanzo: =3
jojo: )= you're leaving me here with BLAH guys
yanzo: LOL OH SO NOW YOU'RE BITCHING THAT MICHAEL, i mean, FOO WEI ZI IS BLAH? HAHAAHAHAH.
jojo: i'm quoting you

Me love Yanzo. =D

Weekend Wonderland

2010-04-02T13:22:00.002+08:00

A public holiday for a long weekend, check. Friends, who are raring to go on holiday, check. Passport, check. With all these available to you, why not plan a fantastic trip?

Think non-congested roads, lovely blue seas – bluer than anything Sentosa has to offer – and hours after hours of pampering. Yes, even the guys would love the scrumptious body scrubs and massages.

This trip will rejuvenate your overworked senses, give you plenty of quality time with your friends and or darlings, and get you away from Singapore – congestion and shopping, eating and more shopping? Pooh! This is before we even throw you the clincher – Good Friday promotions.

What an absolutely Good Friday.

In fact, I only realized it is the Good Friday weekend when I was told of the Good Friday getaways packages. Here’s what the holiday has to offer. Now, promise not to squeal and neglect work.

1. Batam View Resort 3D2N at $199 nett per person

This 3D2N getaway deal is very attractive – considering that it includes a stay at a premier resort hotel with the largest grounds of 10 hectares. Think 18 football fields’ worth of entertainment, set upon an exclusive hilltop. Batam View Resort even boasts its own private beach. How’s that for a holiday?

The best part is that you can enjoy this trip hassle-free as it comes with ferry tickets – including the customary taxes and fuel charge – and hotel transfers planned for. All you have to do is decide between staying in the resort or going to places of interest. After all, the resort can entertain you with its own spa facilities and sports centre. There are also various golf courses in the vicinity.

The adventurous can choose to arrange with the receptionists for a trip into town to visit the temples and the famed Barelang Bridge.

2. Sun Beach Resort 3D2N at $122 per person

A good alternative will be to visit Tioman, a dragon-like island with a natural beauty that is its biggest attraction. This trip includes accommodation and meals; breakfast for both days you wake up on the sunny isle, pack lunch for one day, one dinner and one BBQ – all buffet style. You also get to go on a island tour cum snorkeling trip with a guide.

I love that the chalets are either right on the sandy beach, lined along the village walkway, or tucked in the hillside. Most of the rustic, lively lodges have a view of the sea as well.

The courageous can also opt to go jungle trekking, on fishing trips or round island tours by boat.

3. Singapore Nightlife

Okay, so you cannot go overseas because you need to work one out of three days. FreshGrads has an alternative: head down to Sentosa – pointedly ignoring the unblue sea – and then to town at night!

On Good Friday eve, grab your friends and head down to Bump or Fash or both at Butter Factory. Dance the night away in Butterfly at Bump as DJ Mylk and Drem in playing the biggest hip hop hits, funk boogie and sexy R&B; or groove to DJs Andrew T and Zushan’s mix at Get yer Fash on. It is bound to be an awesome night!

If loud, booming music and sweaty bodies are not your thing, drop by 7atenine for a night of good drinks and Jazz. Just for the Good Friday weekend, jazz trumpeter Theo Croker will be entertaining you as you sip your granny smith mojito.

As I said, it will be a great Good Friday.

Paulaner Brauhaus Singapore

2010-03-31T12:52:00.001+08:00

Pork knuckles topped with sauerkraut, an array of grilled sausages, salads, cheese, ham and cakes… I can almost wax lyrical about it. And have I already mentioned the beers? FreshGrads.Sg brings you the wonderful Sunday brunch at the Paulaner Brauhaus – a great reason to get out of bed on a sleepy weekend.

The Food:

Paulaner Brauhaus and Restaurant offers a healthy range of original Bavarian dining that compliments the Paulaner’s masterly brewed beer excellently. For $50, enjoy the Fruhschoppen (which happily means morning pint) Sunday German brunch with free flow Paulaner beers. It is worth ditching the healthy lifestyle for!

For lovers of red meat, be bowled over by the delicious pork knuckles paired with the traditional sauerkraut. The combination of firm red meat and crunchy skin with finely shredded fermented cabbage is a delight for the taste buds, especially with a swig of Paulaner.

Another hit was the juicy pork leg, served by an attentive chef stationed by the wooden chopping board. Show an interest and he will whip out his carving knife to serve you a generous portion. Yum!

Compliment the abundance of meat with greens to curb the guilt; Paulaner has a good range of green offerings. Try the Farmer’s Salad with feta cheese and olives, tomato salad with herb vinaigrette or the cucumber salad topped with dill.

I, however, zeroed in on the warm potato salad with chives – a creamy mix of carbohydrate goodness – and the seafood salad, which was a refreshing mix of squid, shelled mussels and crab.

Of course, drink plenty of beer! Paulaner Lager is medium bodied, with a slight malt sweetness and fruity, wheaty flavour; the Dark shares the sweetness but has a toasted malt flavour that finishes dry. Both are, of course, great with the Bavarian menu.

Finish up the delicious meal with sweet offerings – chocolate fondue with skewered fruits, Movenpick ice cream, cake and fruits. Being a cake lover, I picked the blackforest, which put all other blackforest cakes I have tried to shame with its quality chocolate and cream, and a delightfully tangy passion fruit cake.

Another hit was the tiramisu-in-a-cup, a good version of the Italian with its rich cream and coffee flavour – with the hint of rum.

Give the chocolate fondue a miss though. The lack of choice in the items – item actually; there is only one choice of grape, honeydew and strawberry on a skewer to be contended with – to be dipped is not helped by the wooden taste the fruits seem to have gotten from the skewers.

On hindsight, I realized I should have paced myself through the meal. My eager, hungry approach towards the brunch buffet got me through the meal too quickly; I missed the tasty looking tomato cream soup and the chocolate mousse cake, among others.

But, I will be back again!

The Mood:

Do not let the empty bar fool you like it did me; the action is hidden from public’s view by a lift – probably the only bar with their own to serve all their three floors – tucked in the corner.
The restaurant level, where the brunch is held, is a homey place, with its wooden furnishing and red tiles reminiscent of warm kitchens.

I was told that the setting was of a unique Bavarian atmosphere. The focal point of the restaurant was a huge Maibaum (Maypole), a 16th century Bavarian architectural feature. The spacious interior was also adorned with hangings of traditional Bavarian costumers and individual pendant lamps.

Unfortunately for my dining companions and myself, the uncomfortable stuffy air marred our visit – and our meal. I was assured that almost never happened; their air-conditioning was just faulty that day.

In all, it was a delightful experience that I would not mind getting out of bed for. The buffet goes for $50 (with free flow Paulaner beer) or $40 (with free flow soft drinks) from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

It is recommended to reserve your seats. For light eaters or late sleepers, you can opt for the ala-carte menu.

Exciting Saturday

2010-03-26T13:42:00.004+08:00

My plans for a glorious Saturday:

1. Sleep past noon, or until I feel like getting out of bed
2. Eat all the chocolates I want
3. Laze / shop / gossip the day away!

Ah, I feel better already.

Shut up and SMILE

2010-03-24T15:27:00.004+08:00

It probably makes more sense (and shows that I'm more technologically updated) if I embed a video but the one I found was really really off-putting. It looks like a series of Paint-drawn pictures put together. So, the lyrics.

It makes me happy! :D

SHUT UP AND SMILE by Bowling for Soup
Its not the end of the world
In fact its not even the end of the summer
But thank god the tv is on
Cuz theres no way we could know
Anything that’s goin down
Or how were supposed to be feeling about it
I cant tell you how much I wish we could shut up and smile, yeah

Sail around the world and tell them all to keep singing it
la la la la la la
all we needs a harmony and we’ll convince the world to sing
la la la la la la
throw your arms around someone (throw your arms around someone)
maybe spread a little love
I know it sounds a little dumb (or maybe I’m a little drunk)
But all we need is some ice cream and a hug

Take a good look around
Does life really suck
Are we just complaining
I hope that this mic is on (testing 1, 2)
Cuz im on a roll here
I hope this is making some sense
I hope that you’ll throw up your hands and sing it
And tell all the haters that they should just shut up and smile, yeah

Sail around the world and tell them all to keep singing it
la la la la la la
all we needs a harmony and we’ll convince the world to sing
la la la la la la
throw your arms around someone (throw your arms around someone)
maybe spread a little love
I know it sounds a little dumb (or maybe I’m a little drunk)
But all we need is some ice cream

All we need is love and beer
And old school metal and holiday cheer
TO be happy
(All you need is someone near)
like ben and jerry
(to hold you close and pretend that they care)

can we all just, get along now
we found something that we all have in common now
we can hold hands, do keg stands
water skiing sounds great to me now

Sail around the world and tell them all to keep singing it
la la la la la la
all we needs a harmony and we’ll convince the world to sing
la la la la la la
throw your arms around someone (throw your arms around someone)
maybe spread a little love
I know it sounds a little dumb (or maybe we’re a little drunk)
But all we need is some ice cream and a hug

(Chanting “All we need is love and beer”)
all we need is some ice cream and a hug
all we need is some ice cream and a hug
all we need is some ice cream and a hug

Everything I don't have

2010-03-24T15:00:00.001+08:00

Everything I don't have.

Is this a case of only wanting what I don't have? Ha.

Greying hair

2010-03-21T19:24:00.002+08:00

I feel very grown up!

The idea of puttering around life, making decisions and planning my route seems so very old. I almost expected to start discussing lifelong insurance plans, investments like apartments and cars and talk about greying hair and aching joints!

It’s not so much the growing up or the security I would have gotten from going to school and just being there. Physically. It’s just that, after graduation with little or no fireworks, things stayed stagnant. It’s a little off-putting.

Perhaps I thought too highly of graduation. The elation from having no deadlines or assignments, the excitement of being free everyday to occupy myself as I like – it wasn’t as exciting as I had thought. Instead, I felt unproductive. I think I practically became too desperate for something to do; something not eating, shopping or entertainment.

I think I thought graduation would be very very exciting – much more than school with its restrictions. And it’s not.

So maybe, I am jumping into a potential career that come by my way too quickly. It is definitely not what I had expected, nor what I had hoped to do first and foremost.

I’m starting tomorrow! To be honest, I am very happy to go back into the Land of Stability Living. With the job to anchor me, I’ll probably be more productive and happier. (:

Wooooonderland!

2010-03-07T17:42:00.003+08:00

I met Huijing and Lianghao incredibly late yesterday for a day of shopping and dinner. We ended up visiting all of two stores – during one of which Lianghao was off at you-know-where. As usual.

Dinner and drinks was a great affair, mostly because I got to put Lianghao down so many times. What a joy to be besting him at his trade, which he seems to have given up on. His sudden niceness (in comparison to the previous him, you understand, not to the general population) almost sent me on a guilt trip and almost made me feel super evil this morning. It must have been something, seeing it was 7.45am.

We also watched Alice in Wooooonderland with Huijing and her family. (aka we saved Wenlin :P) I thought the animations were good, and I bet Huijing thought the show was okay too. Lianghao only has eyes for the whimsical Anne Hathaway – who would have look better without purple lipstick.

I would love to go out to play everyday, but it only reminds me (once again) on my unemployed status. My mom has taken to not calling me’ graduate’, but ‘unemployed fella’. To be honest, it feels unproductive. ):

Wooooonnderland!

Song in my head: Fly me to the moon

I prefer the more whimsical version, but this reminds me of the jazzy tune at Jazz@Southbridge.

the SWEETEST thing #2

2010-03-07T00:11:00.000+08:00

Remember The Sweetest Thing post? Well, here is its second – The Sweetest Thing #02

While walking home, I saw this couple strolling in front of me. He was carrying her pumps, and she walking barefooted on the sidewalk. They were in no rush, just walking slowly, talking in soft undertones, touching each other’s arm. I find it incredibly mundane, and sweet in its simplicity.

I would like to tangle a shoe off each hand and twirl down the streets too.

Dum dum

2010-02-28T15:20:00.000+08:00

Dum dum. The sound of not doing anything.

Perhaps I should liven up.

hot weather!

2010-02-28T15:18:00.001+08:00

I feel like the grass outside my house - parched beyond relief.

Irritation

2010-02-27T18:31:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I can be very impatient and be rather short with people. I think it's rather unhealthy - not for those I'm short with, but on the me with the short fuse.

I don't know why. Perhaps I was in a bad mood then. But it is certainly not nice, and lousy on me that I cannot rein in some irritation.

Hmms.

I own you!

2010-02-22T23:18:00.000+08:00

The Awesome Jojo over the not so awesome Michael. :D

我愿意-王菲

2010-02-19T19:59:00.001+08:00

我愿意-王菲

Smile, smile, smile!

2010-02-16T01:36:00.001+08:00

Oh god, I'm so repetitive. The same issues, the same worries, just a different day. Feeling nothing and emptiness, being jaded, not giving what a shit I do.

I try to control myself - as much as I abhor the whole social fakeness, I know it's important. But I still feel empty, I guess like, I don't know. Perhaps I just don't know where I am going, or what I'm doing. Okay, life isn't certain and that's the fun, but....

I don't know, perhaps I'm very silly. I want the fun of not knowing my life route, that's more adventurous. At the same time, I want the guarantee that things will turn out good for me - it doesn't have to be multi-millionaire with apartments all over the world, but good enough to live the life I want.

Also, I hate the whole let's smile and be happy now, we can bitch behind their backs world. We can smile and take pictures together, we don't have to like each other! It just irks me that people can be fake. And be so goddamn okay with it.

Perhaps I should learn to like the world's terms. Smile and bitch behind them like the best of them!

2010-02-16T00:20:00.000+08:00

There's a overwhelming want to be heard, but what do I do? I have nothing to say.

Valentines

2010-02-14T00:22:00.000+08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S! :D

:D

2010-02-13T20:13:00.000+08:00

Awesome Michael came over and sawed, nailed and fixed up this thing from some planks of wood. :D

The tiny orange that he hammered, letting the juice fly all over me. AH.

Aren't I always rambling?

Bye school.

2010-02-12T15:47:00.001+08:00

Last class ever in Poly.
Last lunch after class.
Last assignments, last project!

No more rubbish talks, phases and fun. :(

Haha, who am I kidding.

14 February

2010-02-12T15:45:00.000+08:00

With Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year on the same day this year, I came up with this question: Which was more important?

I told Michael that Valentine's Day is more important to me. For me, CNY is nothing more than visiting my grandmother and staying there. The thing is, my maternal family is small.

Besides, I often meet up with them - so much so that meeting them again on that day is no occasion. My cousins and I also have huge paternal families - they all leave early to visit, while I traditionally visit on CNY 2. So it kind of gets boring.

On the other hand, Valentine's feels like a bigger deal to me. After all, this will be my only second V Day! I know that sentence will have more impact if it's my first, but alas. I spent my virgin Valentine's Day last year with Mike. :D

But of course, there are people who say: everyday can be Valentine's Day! Well, honestly, I think it's different. You don't make the effort to go out to celebrate romance do you? I mean, I thought dates were meant for having fun and unwind, not celebrate romance.

Sooooooooo, you see, I pick V Day.

*rambles rambles*

OOH!

2010-02-10T15:25:00.002+08:00

Melody says:
haha
zorro misses yoy
you
viit him soon
dark chocolate! says:
and you know
how?
haha
Melody says:
HAHAHHAHAHAHHAS
dark chocolate! says:
*huggies zorro*
Melody says:
I can read his mind
WHOO
dark chocolate! says:
hahaha
right
Melody says:
i'm going to the gyn
wanna go
okay forget it
HAHAHAHHAHAs
LOLS
i think its as answering myself
-.-
dark chocolate! says:
i wanna go too!
soon
Melody says:
HAHAS
i'm going
NOW
like in 20 mins
dark chocolate! says:
i cant, tuition
Melody says:
meet me meet me
screw your kid
):
dark chocolate! says:
no thanks
he's 7!!!!
Melody says:
HAHAHHAS
dark chocolate! says:
*looks of horror*
you sick person
i'm telling lucas!

See Lucas! Your girlfriend is one sick person! She wants to in her words, screw, my 7-year-old tuition kid!

The Big 2-1

2010-02-10T10:57:00.000+08:00

Happy 21st Birthday Michael!

Wishing you a grand smashing birthday where you won’t get drunk, will get lots of presents and have lots of fun! To a great many happy years ahead, you matured man!

I hope you had fun!
Xoxo, Jojo

pictures soon

rambles

2010-02-10T00:49:00.003+08:00

I suppose everyone's characters and behaviors are influenced and shaped by our thought leaders and people around us. Simply, we are who we are because of the people, things and events in our lives.

Which do sounds a lot like common sense I conced.

I just happened to come upon the idea of the make-up of my own personality. It's not sudden; more like something I gave a little thought to time to time. Like, how I tend to be strong. I don't always succeed but as long as no one really knows that the strong facade is not more than just that, it didn't matter.

So I believe children from divorced families would turn out just fine, I believe poor families don't necessarily have it worse off than richer families, I believe unfair social norms are rubbish (such as, that polytechnics are for dumb people).

Sometimes, what I believe in affects no one at all but me. To cite an oft used scenario: I picked poly, for a small part, to show people that reasonably smart people (I like to think my O Levels grades were quite decent) do pick polytechnics. In the end, it changes no one's perception and only lessens my chance of making it to local universities. Silly at best, aren't I?

I admit it was a foolish thing to do. After all, what can one do but move with social norms? I could very well be a first year student now. Or not. Hmm.

But like I said, being strong - and therefore, independent and reliable - is something I try to be. More likely than not, it stemmed from not wanting to conform to the stereotypes set by society; especially one I didn't like at all. I would like to be different from the stereotypical, and be just another wallflower. Did it matter if I am not quite that independent and reliable, that I truly need someone to hold my hands, that I need friends?

I hope not.

I hope no one saw through my facade.

I think being attached to Michael for a year and 5 months made me trust him, care a lot for him, really really like him and love him. Our ups and downs helps us grow, and I really care so much that I hope whatever differences or fights we have will always always be resolved - and quickly! Haha.

I think I may very well suffer without him. I'd love to tell him, but it may inflate his more than healthy ego!

Being attached to such a guy also make me lose my independence. I'm not sure I saw it as a good thing at first - it felt like a threat to my system. Honestly, Michael is my first real boyfriend. I have never felt such a loss of control. I was so unused to my dependence on him - I seek his opinion about things most random, have a need to tell him about my thoughts that I usually only share with HuiJing when my brain threatens to explode from 'over-bottling' (which is not often), have a unexplainable need to want him by my side and hug him all the time. I suppose I required a huge overhaul on my system - I was that uncomfortable with losing what I considered myself.

But looking back now, this is me. Behind the strong person I try to be, I am this independent girl but at times needy girlfriend, this strong nothing-can-go-wrong worrywart, this reliable person who also needs to rely on people around me. Now, was that so bad?

Side note: I shall try not to worry about universities!!

P.S. I hearts you, Michael Foo.

Rock for Bestie.

2010-01-30T11:01:00.001+08:00

I will be the first to admit that it is a little premature, but who cares! I am a planner at heart. Or so I like to think.

On our 21st birthday, HuiJing and I are going to buy each other a rock! :D Seeing our financial situation though, it’s going to be a tiny rock. HMMS. But anyhow, it’s a nice gesture of an amazing 8 years and 9 months of friendship! I mean, by our 21st birthdays anyway. We will get the same design too – a continuation of all the similar things we have. Yes, we were counting yesterday at Cartel.

THIS IS EXCITING!

Haha. We were plotting to get the guys to buy for us! But we gave up almost immediately. I think I’d be glad if they remembered our birthdays. :P

(:

2010-01-29T11:12:00.001+08:00

Awesome Michael! :D

But the awesomer me is planning your birthday. :P *hugs*

Counting Down

2010-01-28T21:13:00.000+08:00

1 More Submission...
2 More Presentations...
3 More Papers...
Then Graduation! :D

Geylang

2010-01-28T02:35:00.000+08:00

What a well, emotional day. I’ve gone from being very happy to rather disappointed, from I’m-ready-to-murder-someone to dead sleepy.

But the most interesting:-

Reasons to be Fully, Completely and Utterly Pissed:
ONE. I really do not like children who climb furniture, crush papers and whine in the name of bullying tutors. They are really mean; and thieving as they know their tutors are helpless figureheads who cannot punish, scold and kill them.
TWO. I HATE dogs who have no toys and therefore chew my slippers to ribbons. *&$%#&*(&! D:
THREE. People who cannot say “Excuse me” and push past me, stomping on my toes at the same time.
I’d complain more, but it’s unhealthy. I think. It may cause wrinkles.

On a happier note, I managed to spend lots of time with Michael yesterday despite our schedules. They are not hectic and crazily packed schedules to be honest, just that we have to be where our schedule demands – him at work and me in school or in transit to tuition.

Seriously, just the thought gives me shudders. I have come to dread Wednesdays and Fridays.

Yesterday, Michael and I made a very Singapore’s heritage – ish tour to Geylang; famous for being a legalized red light district. Of course, we went there not to indulge in their offerings; but to try Singapore’s supposedly best food.

I say supposedly, because I think it is the atmosphere and place that gives the food the better ‘flavour’. Like how satay tastes better at the hawker centre than the one sold in bars or frozen in supermarkets. You get the idea. Of course, this opinion is mine. I expect Michael would disagree.

Anyhow, we walked and walked and walked the whole Geylang area – hence the cultural tour. I ended up being completely starving, so we had a heavy dinner. Beef kway teow for two (sorry Mommy, but the beef’s really good!), frog porridge (which is superb), Heineken and grubby pasar malam food!

I am quite long-winded this time around.

Xin Yao

2010-01-24T20:50:00.003+08:00

Though I grew up quite after the xinyao movement, I really enjoy them. Songs like Xi Shui Chang Liu and Yi Bu Yi Bu Lai are catchy, and better at capturing the Singapore spirit than the National Day Parade can. Looks like Dr Liang Wen Fu does it better.

But that’s my opinion, of course.

I wanted to show Youtube videos on these songs, but the overwhelming flow of SHE, Fahrenheit and other groups quite frightens me. They are better in small doses.

Re: The True One

2010-01-23T21:06:00.002+08:00

Just my personal take on Lianghao’s post: The True One

How do you start a love when you know of its end?

I think you can, because when you’re starting one, you believe it won’t end. Or, you believe that you can work out anything that stands in your way. I suppose it’s a conviction on your part – you have to believe it. Of course, it could just be a fling, a want to go through the sweet honeymoon period or to simply go through the motions of being a teenager.

To be clear, it refers to a relationship, not a love. I find it hard to believe in love at first sight – it’s like a corny theory, conspiracy even. How can anyone meet someone and decide immediately if he/she is The Right One?

So. I believe you can start a relationship, knowing of its end – a happy ending, if that is what you believe in. (:

And I completely answered the question like it’s a bloody essay.